ABC review to hear from staff impacted by racism, discrimination.

ABC has announced a review into racism affecting staff, following abuse directed at Q+A host Stan Grant.

The review will hear from both past and present staff impacted by racial abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination or antisocial behaviour.

An ABC spokesman said, “ABC Managing Director David Anderson has, in consultation with the Bonner Committee, announced a review to investigate and make recommendations about ABC responses to racism affecting staff, and what additional support can be provided to staff who are subjected to racist or other forms of discriminatory behaviour.

“Mr Anderson has today consulted with senior ABC Diversity Leads about how the review panel will work and who will lead it. Current and former employees will be invited to share their experiences.

“The ABC has zero tolerance for racism in the workplace, as well as bullying, harassment, discrimination or any antisocial behaviour. All ABC employees deserve to feel welcomed, included, supported and safe in our workplace. Any such behaviour is investigated when complaints are made, and actions taken when warranted.”

Former ABC employees Sami Shah has previously cited racism within ABC including from management while Osman Faruqi has pointed to a lack of diversity amongst management and board.

David Anderson this week told a Senate Estimates hearing, “As former ABC employees, it is quite troubling to hear. …over the last three years we have certainly looked at who we are as an organisation. We’ve issued targets in our diversity inclusion plan. We’ve set up different frameworks. We’ve set up a Diversity Advocates Network. We’ve set up resources for people within the organisation, we’ve increased the diversity of the organisation over that time. I don’t by any stretch of the imagination suggest the work is done or we’ve done enough. It is never enough. Our job is to reflect the community that we serve and that’s our goal. In content terms we’ve also issued our diversity commissioning guidelines, which again is to reflect what people see from the ABC. It should reflect the community back to itself.”

Yesterday ABC Chair Ita Buttrose said, “Our audience researcher show us that 75% of people think that our content reflects the diversity of Australia. I think what management needs to do is make sure that we support the people who make that content when they are subjected to racist behaviour. It’s unacceptable and I’m appalled at what Stan went through. If I’d known earlier, I would have spoken to him about it. But I didn’t know and I don’t think many of us knew until fairly late in the piece.”