An ABC Indigenous Affairs reporter signed off a live cross on Australia Day by telling viewers that Australia ‘always was and always will be Aboriginal country’.
Dja Dja Wurrung and Yorta Yorta woman Bridget Brennan, the broadcaster’s Indigenous Affairs editor, used the phrase to describe her report on a Wugulora ceremony is held at Barangaroo in Sydney on Friday.
News Breakfast Studio presenter Michael Rowland completed his conversation with Brennan with a general reflection on the ceremony she had discussed.
Brennan said Australia Day was an important date for Indigenous people to “commemorate our ancestors and those who fought for many decades to improve the living standards of our people”.
“Before we leave you, fantastic job by the way, and the Wugulora ceremony simply underlines the fact that January 26, Australia Day, simply means very different things to different Australians,” Rowland said.
“It’s really positive that more Australians are connecting with their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and learning the names of the nations they live in,” Brennan replied.
‘For First Nations people, for my people, this is a very important day to remember our ancestors and those who fought for many decades to improve the living standards of our people, and to remember that it has always been and always will be Aboriginal land to stay.’
ABC Indigenous Affairs Editor Bridget Brennan signed off her report on an Indigenous ceremony by saying Australia ‘always was and always will be Aboriginal land’
The signing was greeted with anger by some X users, formerly Twitter.
‘That always was and always will be their ABC. Defund!’ wrote one irate gambler.
“Shouldn’t this be Former ABC…?” said another person.
“She can be a political activist, but she can’t be on ABC’s payroll.
“ABC News Breakfast was almost unwatchable this morning,” another commented.
On her
“Today we mourn our ancestors, those who came before us,” reads a message from First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria member Ngarra Murray.
“We mourn the dead with the honesty and integrity they deserve.
Brennan said Australia Day was an important date for Indigenous people to “commemorate our ancestors who fought for many decades to improve the living standards of our people.”
“We pay our respects to the fighters of the border wars and resistance fighters who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country and its people from the invaders.”
‘Today is Survival Day for me. A time to recognize that we are still here and we will always be here,” reads another tweet reposted by Brendan.
In the run-up to January 26, the ABC was criticized for urging people to attend ‘Invasion and Survival Day’ rallies instead of celebrating Australia Day.
A photo of a large ‘Invasion Day’ gathering, where people protest and mourn the arrival of the First Fleet in Australia as the beginning of Australia’s Indigenous dispossession, was posted to the ABC Indigenous Instagram channel last week.
On her X account (formerly Twitter), Brendan posted this tweet from Ngarra Murray, who is a member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria
“Invasion and Survival Day Events,” the caption for the image reads.
‘A week away. Time to get up! Did we miss an event near you? Drop them below.’
The post outlined 29 Invasion and Survival Day events, including marches and rallies, mourning and smoking ceremonies, concerts and festivals.
The last slide featured the slogan ‘Always was, always will be (Aboriginalland)’.
An ABC spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘Bridget Brennan is a highly respected and excellent journalist. The ABC fully supports her.”