“Abuse to our mob is not new… it’s increasing with intensity”

Last week NITV announced it was halting its Twitter account after ongoing racism and hate, but maintaining Instagram and Facebook as social media platforms.

The news followed ABC’s Stan Grant taking a break from Q+A amid a high-profile retreat following online abuse and media headlines.

The Point host John Paul Janke says trolling has increased since the government announced a referendum on a Voice to Parliament.

“Ultimately, we made the call to being on a platform like Twitter and being exposed to the conversations that happen on there. Is it really worth the investment of our time and energy? Are we getting the impact that we really want through engaging in that platform?” he tells TV Tonight.

“We made the decision to step away from Twitter”

“We made the decision to step away from Twitter as a result of what we see as the ongoing and increasing racism and hate that our teams who manage and monitor our accounts, see every day. In the end, they’re just simply doing their job. They’re sharing content, trying to promote First Nations excellence, voices and content.

“The abuse to a lot of our communities, a lot of our mob, is not new. But we can see that it’s increasing with intensity.”

Janke, a proud Wuthathi and Meriam man, replaced Stan Grant as host of Indigenous current affairs show The Point in 2018. Having known Grant for 30 years, he looks to recent events with much regret in a year when a conversation is needed more than ever.

“I think for a lot of us, the loss of him in the debate around the Voice to Parliament, and a referendum, really is a loss for the national conversation,” he says.

“He’s probably our most pre-eminent First Nations journalist”

“He’s got a career that spans about four decades, both here in Australia and internationally. It’s a big loss to the media landscape at a time where this country needs First Nations voices on a national platform.

“Stan, being a pre-eminent First Nations journalist, is probably the focus of a lot of that criticism and attack. … but we want to bring the diverse opinions in First Nations communities to that national conversation and, sometimes, I think Stan has said in articles post-show, it’s an uncomfortable truth for the country.”

“Every second week, we’re going to be taking the show to a different state”

In his 5th year hosting The Point Janke is undertaking a national roadtour to visit all states and territories to hear views on the referendum question. The Point: Referendum Road Trip will also include commentary and analysis from Canberra-based correspondent Gamilaroi man, Cameron Gooley, and current affairs features from National Point Correspondent and Gamilaroi woman, Keira Jenkins.

“Every second week, we’re going to be taking the show to a different state, and getting a panel of guests to hear their thoughts on the referendum,” Janke explains.

“So we’ll look towards a panel discussion of Indigenous leaders and sometimes non-Indigenous spokespersons as well.

“Our reporters in the field will prepare some packages, talking to other voices in the community, and highlighting the issues that are affecting them, and potentially how a Voice to Parliament will affect or not affect the unique issues that they’re facing in their particular centres or regions.

“There’s probably a lot of different levels of comprehension of what a Voice to Parliament is, what it can be, and what it should be. So I think we want to make sure that all those voices are heard and echoed across the country.”

Acknowledging there are contrasting views within Indigenous communities, The Point hopes to hear a range of perspectives.

“There are differing views in our community”

“Public broadcasters are bound by our code to highlight a balanced perspective. There are differing views in our community and I think we need to ensure that they’re brought to the attention of the conversation. But also in saying that, we need to make sure that those views are actually valid, and important views. One of our key aims this year will be part of making sure that everyone comes at this referendum from an informed position.”

The first episode tonight takes place live from the studio on Cammeraygal Country in Sydney and follows a week later from Waiben (Thursday Island) in the Torres Strait during the Winds of Zenadth festival.

“All of the islands come into Thursday Island for a big cultural festival. So it’s perfect for us to go up there and get the views of those living into Torres Strait on the Voice to Parliament and also on the issues that are impacting them.”

“Her Network 10 brand enables us to get into an audience that might usually not watch indigenous content.”

Returning as co-host is 10’s Narelda Jacobs as part of growing close ties between the commercial and public broadcasters -both also collaborate soon for the series The First Inventors, hosted by Rob Collins.

“Narelda’s networks and her Network 10 brand enables us to get into an audience that might usually not watch indigenous content. But we see that as being very important in this year. Narelda and I have had the opportunity to work not only on The Point, but on our Sunset Ceremony show on January 25th and other shows,” he continues.

“Really, for us, it’s giving us an audience that’s more mainstream, that we need to reach in a year where everyone’s vote is important to the outcome of a referendum.”

The Point 7:30pm Tuesdays on NITV / 10:30pm Tuesdays on SBS.