Sixteen months on, and there’s still no sign of the much-hyped ABC racism review

Last year, the ABC announced an extraordinary review into racism at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster, but 16 months on it has not been handed down, and Indigenous leaders are not happy.

The ABC’s much-hyped racism review is almost three months past its due date, with the national broadcaster now refusing to comment on the timing of its release.

On May 21, 2023, ABC’s managing director David Anderson announced a review would be undertaken into racism within the organisation — and how management handles the issue — after he apologised to former Indigenous host Stan Grant, a Wiradjuri, Dharawal and Gurrawin man. Anderson said Grant had been exposed to “sickening behaviour” over his on-air commentary prior to King Charles III’s coronation.

At a Senates Estimates hearing in June, Mr Anderson said the review, which was being undertaken by Indigenous lawyer Terri Janke, was due to be completed by July. 

“We are on track for that report to be delivered to the ABC, according to my understanding, at the end of July,” he said.

“We will have the chance to review it. We will then certainly make it available.”

ABC managing director David Anderson.

On Friday, an ABC spokesman refused to provide a date for the release of the review.

“We will release the review when it is ready,” the spokesman said.

Indigenous businessman Warren Mundine said it was “bizarre and unacceptable” that it had taken so long.

“Some murder trials take less time,” he said. “It should be done within weeks, not take 16 months.”

Mr Anderson also said at the June Senate hearing that many managers, including himself, had completed interviews as part of the racism review process.

“I have no indication as yet what the findings or recommendations will be, other than that many interviews have taken place,” Mr Anderson said.

The Australian contacted Ms Janke’s law firm, Terri Janke and Company, last week to check on the status of the report but received no response.

In March, Media Diversity Australia, an organisation that represents diversity in the media industry, issued a call-out to past and present ABC staff asking them to come forward to provide information to the review.

Grant was also contacted by The Australian, but he did not respond.

Originally published as Sixteen months on, and there’s still no sign of the much-hyped ABC racism review