Independent review into racism at the ABC, finds reports of racial slurs, exclusion

An investigation into racism at the ABC found current and former staff experienced racial slurs, exclusion and being mistaken for other people of the same race.

A scathing independent review into the national broadcaster has found staff at the ABC had experienced “entrenched” racism, including being subjected to racial slurs and exclusion.

The ABC’s managing director David Anderson has apologised to current and former ABC staff and said the review’s 15 recommendations will be accepted in principle.

“This racism cannot occur in any workplace and I’ve called it out today,” he said.

“If people believe that it’s OK to behave like this, this is not the place for them. We will find them and we will make sure they leave the ABC. It cannot happen.”

Staff reported being subjected to racial slurs, exclusion due to their cultural background, and being mistaken for a more junior person based on their racial appearance.

Out of 120 current and former ABC staff who identified as culturally and linguistically diverse, and First Nations people, only one said they had not personally experiencing racism within the organisation.

However, the respondent said they had been aware of racism occurring at the network.

The scathing review into racism at the broadcaster found racism had been “entrenched” in at the national broadcaster. Picture: NewsWire

The findings of the report, commissioned by the broadcaster and undertaken by Indigenous lawyer Dr Terri Janke, a Wuthathi, Yadhaighana and Meriam woman, were released on Tuesday.

It found staff responses “overwhelmingly” indicated racism exists within the ABC workplace, with reports of both overt and covert racism like stereotyping, a lack of mentorship roles and having assumed issues on impartiality.

Some staff also said they had been withheld from career opportunities as they are “considered to have been hired to only meet diversity criteria,” and therefore their skills were not valued.

Systemic issues were also identified as being “entrenched” at the ABC including issues around employment conditions, pay discrepancies, recruitment, staff support and instances of bullying and harassment.

“This suggests racism is systemic at the ABC – the ABC’s policies and practices disadvantage people who are First Nations and CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) in these areas,” the report found

The report also said there was a “lack of trust” in current complaint systems, and how the ABC managed and monitored reporting processes, with the review calling for large-scale reform.

The ABC’s outgoing managing director David Anderson has issued a formal apology to staff. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Staff also reported being exposed to racism through “external attacks” through inflammatory comments, with concerns over the “lack of consistency” of how comments are moderated.

The review was announced in May last year after high profile ABC host Stan Grant, a Wiradjuri, Dharawal and Gurrawin man, said he had faced “sickening behaviour” over his coverage prior to King Charles III’s coronation.

“No one at the ABC – whose producers invited me onto their coronation coverage as a guest – has uttered one word of public support,” Mr Grant said at the time.

Mr Anderson later apologised to Mr Grant over the matter.

Mr Anderson has now issued a formal apology to both current and former employees who have experienced racism, and committed in-principle support to the report’s 15 recommendations.

He told staff the broadcaster needed to “do better” and recommitted its “zero tolerance for racism in our workplace”.

“On behalf of everyone at the ABC, I am sorry for any and all racist behaviour and past harms experienced by our Indigenous and CALD employees, either currently or formerly employed,” he said on Tuesday.

“We all need to do better for our colleagues by preventing or acting on behaviour that seeks to discriminate against, bully or demean them.

“We all need to do better for our colleagues by remaining vigilant against racism or discrimination of any kind in our workplace.”

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance acting director Michelle Rae said the report’s findings placed the wider industry “on notice”.

“It is shameful that so many ABC staff have felt abandoned by their employer when they have suffered racism, discrimination and bias,” she said.

“Other media organisations cannot assume these issues are isolated to the national broadcaster.”

Originally published as Independent review into racism at the ABC, finds reports of racial slurs, exclusion