ABC star Laura Tingle branded Australia a ‘racist country’ as she brazenly laid into Peter Dutton. Now her boss has weighed in – and he’s NOT happy
ABC political journalist Laura Tingle has been reprimanded by her own bosses after claiming Australia is a ‘racist country’.
Tingle, the 7.30 programme’s chief political correspondent, made the comment in Sydney Writers Festival on Sunday.
‘We are a racist country, let’s face it. We always have been, and it’s very depressing,” she said during a panel discussion.
Tingle also accused opposition leader Peter Dutton of fanning the flames of anti-migrant sentiment and praised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s leadership.
ABC News executive director Justin Stevens weighed in on the comments Wednesday evening.
ABC political journalist Laura Tingle has been reprimanded by her own bosses after claiming Australia is a ‘racist country’
He said Tingle’s comments “lacked the context, balance and supporting information of her work for the ABC and would not have met the ABC’s editorial standards.”
“While the comments were made in a conversational manner and not in her employment capacity, the ABC and its employees have unique obligations in the Australian media,” Mr Stevens said.
“Today she has explained her comments in more detail to ensure there is a factual overview of the relevant context and details.
‘The ABC’s editorial standards play a crucial role. Laura has been reminded of their application both at external events and in her work and I have advised her on the comments.’
Tingle published an article on the ABC website explaining what she meant when she labeled Australia ‘racist’.
He said Tingle’s comments “lacked the context, balance and supporting information of her work for the ABC and would not have met the ABC’s editorial standards.”
“While the comments were made in a conversational manner and not in her employment capacity, the ABC and its employees have unique obligations in the Australian media,” Mr Stevens said.
“Today she has explained her comments in more detail to ensure there is a factual overview of the relevant context and details.
‘The ABC’s editorial standards play a crucial role. Laura has been reminded of their application both at external events and in her work and I have advised her on the comments.’
Tingle published an article on the ABC website explaining what she meant when she labeled Australia ‘racist’.
“I did comment on Sunday that we are a racist country, in the context of a discussion about the political prospects that await us,” she said.
‘I didn’t say every Australian is a racist. But we clearly have a problem with racism.”
Tingle also accused opposition leader Peter Dutton of fanning the flames of anti-migrant sentiment
She added: ‘Through these observations at the writers’ festival that the nature of the free-flowing panel discussion meant that they were not surrounded by every quote to back them up, which would have been – and was – included in what I had said earlier at the meeting . ABC.’
During Sunday’s panel, Tingle said she couldn’t remember the last time a major party leader was seen “saying… everything that goes wrong in this country is because of migrants.”
‘[I] had this sudden flash of people trying to rent a property or at auction and they look a little different – however you define ‘different’ – (and) that he (Dutton) has basically given them a license to be abused, and in any circumstance where people feel like they are missing out,” she said.
Tingle accused Dutton of ‘dog whistling’ and said his call to reduce immigration did not make ‘rational sense’.
She also praised Labour, saying: ‘It’s not just about whether they’ve got rid of Scott Morrison, they’re actually trying to govern, they’re trying to run a government, they’re actually trying to make policy.
“Whether you think the policy is bad or not is another matter.”
Critics of Tingle’s comments accused her of failing to remain impartial as a political reporter.
Others called on the ABC to stop receiving taxpayer money.
‘Who really cares and believes the c**p is generated by a labor-friendly biased National Broadcaster? Just now dismantle the ABCs and throw them away,” someone wrote on X.
‘Laura Tingle does not speak for the majority of Australians… Dismantle the ABC!’ said another.
“Tingle is long past her time at ABC. ABC is anti-Australia. Undo it,” wrote another.
Tingle was appointed to the ABC board in 2023 as a staff-elected director and is required to ‘act in good faith and in the best interests of the ABC at all times’.
In March, ABC chairman Kim Williams shared a blunt message saying staff should leave if they breach the national broadcaster’s code of being balanced.
“If you don’t want to express a position that strives for impartiality, don’t work at the ABC,” he said.
Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman described Tingle’s comments about Mr Dutton as “extraordinary and completely indefensible”.
“In addition to her comments about Mr Dutton, Ms Tingle has made further statements about her views on the Albanian government and the coalition,” he said.
“While every Australian is entitled to their political views, not every Australian is the chief political correspondent for the ABC’s 7.30 program.
“The ABC must explain how Ms Tingle’s statements are compatible with her role at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster.”
ABC chief executive David Anderson will be asked about Tingle’s comments at the Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday.