Melissa McIntosh MP
Shadow Minister for Communications
Shadow Minister for Women
Federal Member for Lindsay
As our national broadcaster the ABC has an obligation under the Act and its charter to ‘take account of the multicultural character of the Australian community’. The ABC must uphold these obligations and protect our multiculturalism and promote social cohesion, not divide our nation.
The ABC’s ‘Always Was Tonight’ program that aired on Tuesday night was distasteful and divisive.
Given the horrors that have confronted Australians over the last month, and the catastrophic failure of the Albanese Government to confront antisemitism, we must not tolerate further division.
“The program, whilst promoted by the ABC as satire, was deeply offensive and included a segment with Indigenous children wearing white hoods, a logo changing Triple J to Triple K which is known to depict the Ku Klux Klan, and phrases such as “celebrating Australia Day, by taking the hood to the hood,” said Shadow Minister for Communications, Melissa McIntosh MP.
“To know that children would have been encouraged and coached during the filming of this disgraceful segment is grotesque.
“Our nation was rocked a month ago by the horrors at Bondi, the catastrophic consequence of the Albanese Government’s failure to address antisemitism. Now, our national broadcaster is further fuelling division in our communities with this rubbish.
“The ABC takes offense when criticised on how they spend taxpayer funds. This program is exactly why so many people are frustrated with our national broadcaster.
“We can and must engage in difficult conversations about Australia’s history and present challenges, but children should never be placed at the centre of such content.
“Serious questions must be asked about how this content was approved, and whether appropriate consideration was given to the impact on children, families and the broader community. This content does nothing to promote social cohesion.
“To air a program advertised as a ‘sharp satirical special’ with host Tony Armstrong referring to the program as a ‘comedy show’ when all Australians are grieving the deadliest attack in Australian history and the second-deadliest mass shooting in modern Australian history, is abominable.
“The Minister for Communications must demand a full investigation by the ABC and the Australian Media & Communications Authority as to whether the program breached the ABC’s charter or the content and classification standards.
“The ABC Board and Managing Director should apologise to all Australians for their decision to allow this show to be broadcast.”