Following a prominent journalist’s accusation that Australia is a “racist country,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is facing mounting demands for funding cuts as board members convene for urgent discussions.
At Sunday’s Sydney Writers’ Festival, chief political journalist and staff-elected board member Laura Tingle of 7.30 remarked.
She said Australia is a racist nation, adding that that’s the way it always has been, and it’s pretty disheartening.
Tingle lauded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s leadership and accused Opposition leader Peter Dutton of inciting anti-migrant hysteria.
As a retaliation, the Coalition asked Tingle on Monday how she plans to maintain her objectivity as a journalist leading up to next year’s federal election.
In addition to the dissatisfaction felt by some ABC board members, sources close to chair Kim Williams have suggested moving forward the board’s next meeting in June to address the fallout from Tingle’s remarks.
Australians have voiced their anger and called for the immediate defunding of the ABC.
During Sunday’s panel, Tingle commented that she couldn’t recall the last occasion when a prominent party leader didn’t claim that migrants were to blame for all the problems in the country.
After Mr. Dutton called for a reduction in immigration, Tingle called him a “dog whistler” and argued that his argument was illogical.
Some felt that Tingle had compromised her objectivity as a political journalist by making these remarks.
Still, others demanded that the ABC be cut off from any further government funding.
Another person said it would be a mistake to assume that Laura Tingle represents all Australians while also demanding to defund the ABC.
The Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday will undoubtedly question ABC managing director David Anderson about Tingle’s remarks.