Ita Buttrose, the ABC’s chief executive, has been chastised for breaking the broadcaster’s own rules by using the antiquated term “Aborigine” in a speech to thousands of employees.
Jennetta Quinn-Bates, a former ABC and NITV journalist, tagged the ABC chair on social media after using the term during a high-profile media business speech.
Buttrose made the gaffe during her keynote speech at Sydney’s The Ivy Ballroom for the Andrew Olle Media Lecture black tie event on Friday evening.
She said Mr Olle’s work on TV and radio would ‘tell the stories of Aborigines, the mentally ill, the poor and the powerless.’
She immediately came under fire for using the term.
Ms Quinn-Bates, a Malyangapa Barkindji lady and former ABC journalist, responded on Twitter with a critical thread.
Ms Quinn-Bates also included a link to the ABC editorial rules, which specify that employees should “avoid using Aborigine outside of quotes.”
‘I’m tweeting ABC chair Ita Buttrose right now!’ Ms Quinn-Bates retorted angrily. ‘I suppose you edit your own work when you’re [the] big dog.’
‘You’d expect [she] would be well-versed in the policies and procedures of the organization they lead.’
‘Aunty Ida’ would probably reply the rulebook is only a guide, but’some respect please,’ she said.
‘First Nations people’ is the politically-correct term and is even replacing ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’.
Some have called on the media to abandon the use of the term ‘Aborigine’, which is a compound of two Latin words.
The ABC appeared to have consigned the word to history in its editorial style guide, which included guidelines on Indigenous content from 2015 and was updated last year.
It has been claimed the continued use of the outdated word has ‘negative effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ self-esteem and mental health’.
One Aboriginal man on social media disagreed with Ms Quinn-Bates.
‘Fill me in why I’m suppose to be offended? As an ‘Aboriginal man’ myself, I never understood why we where referred to as indigenous vs my and my family’s preference as Aboriginal?’
The ABC chair’s mistake came the day after the national broadcaster’s newly-appointed director of news apologised over claims of racism by staff.
This week Justin Stevens’ the ABC’s new director of news issued an apology after some staff claimed to have been victims of racism.
‘To anyone in News who has ever experienced any racism or bigotry in our workplace, current and former News employees, as Director, News I would like to express my sorrow for that and make a heartfelt apology,’ he said in an email to staff.
An internal review of workplace culture at the ABC found First Nations employees felt undervalued, ignored and discriminated against.