Alan Jones shut down on the ABC’s Q&A for talking about violence against Aboriginal women

Conservative broadcaster Alan Jones was shut down on ABC’s Q&A program when he raised the issue of violence against Aboriginal women.

Jones, who was Sydney’s breakfast radio king for more than three decades, took note of the campaign by Senator Jacinta Price of the Northern Territory Country Liberals to highlight the high rates of domestic violence in remote Aboriginal communities.

‘What are you doing about the violence, the appalling violence against women in the Northern Territory? No action has been taken against it,” said the ADH TV presenter.

“Jacinta Price came to Canberra last year with horrifying revelations about what was going on in the Northern Territory.

“Nobody, nobody opened their mouth to support her and nothing was done about it.”

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Federal Labor Minister Ed Husic, Australia’s first Muslim MP, cut in.

“Alan, violence against women crosses all colors,” he said.

Jones then asked Ben Abbatangelo, an Indigenous writer and former Melbourne Stars Twenty20 Big Bash League cricketer for an answer.

When he fell silent, Q&A host Stan Grant, who is also a native, stopped the discussion and apologized to Indigenous audience member Deidre Trewhella, who had asked about “hostility toward people of the first nation” as someone who “survived my family being killed.” torn by government law’.

“May I just say we’re having this conversation in front of an Aboriginal woman who asked us this question,” Grant said.

“Deirdre, I can hear the sadness in your voice, even when you ask the question.

“I’m just saying, can we just leave it where it is now?

He had noted the campaign by Senator Jacinta Price of the Indigenous Northern Territory Country Liberals to draw attention to the high rate of domestic violence in remote Aboriginal communities.

Q&A host Stan Grant (pictured right with wife Tracey Holmes), who is also Indigenous, closed the discussion and apologized to Indigenous audience member Deidre Trewhella, who had asked about “hostility toward people of the first nation” if anyone who ‘survived my family’ torn by government law’

Ben Abbatangelo, an Indigenous writer and former Melbourne Stars Twenty20 Big Bash League cricketer

“Deirdre, thank you so much for asking that question and I’m sorry you even have to ask the question, because obviously these aren’t easy questions to ask.”

Abbatangelo had also told the panel program that Indigenous players should boycott the AFL, following accusations of racism against Hawthorn coaches in Melbourne.

These included separating Aboriginal players from their families and an athlete who was told to have his girlfriend have an abortion.

Abbatangelo called on indigenous players to boycott the AFL, comparing the idea to the 1966 Wave Hill Walk-Off in the Northern Territory, where 200 Gurindji ranchers, domestic workers and their families went on strike for ill-treatment.

“I think it’s time for Indigenous players in the AFL to boycott,” he said.

It’s time to learn from the Wave Hill Walk-Off, I think it’s time to learn from many other political movements throughout history that solidarity always wins.

“Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander people in the AFL are the biggest shareholders, they bring so much joy to the games, so much joy to people’s lives, but when you can’t be free in those moments, and all of us in those moments, then none of us is.’

Recognizing her Celtic and Warlpiric ancestry, Senator Price used her maiden speech to federal parliament to highlight violence against Aboriginal women in remote communities from Wadeye to Tennant Creek and Yuendemu.

She argued that symbolism, such as welcome to ceremonies on land and recognition of indigenous peoples at corporate events, garnered more attention than addressing “the scourge of alcoholism and the violence” against Aboriginal women.