On
13 March 2018 the Channel 7 Sunrise program’s “Hot Topic” chat segment
featured Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage, commentator
Prue MacSween, and Brisbane radio personality Ben Davis.
The ensuing discussion of indigenous children was reportedly inaccurate,
insensitive, uttered stereotypical generalisations and was borderline racist.
Almost five months later an investigation into the incident conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) under the Broadcasting
Services Act 1992 was concluded and in September a media release was issued.
Australian
Communications and Media Authority, media
release, 4 September 2018:
The Australian
Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found that Channel Seven Sydney
breached the Commercial
Television Industry Code of Practice in a Sunrise ‘Hot
Topics’ segment broadcast on 13 March 2018.
The ACMA found that the
introduction to the segment claiming Indigenous children could ‘only be placed
with relatives or other Indigenous families,’ was inaccurate and in breach of
the Code. The licensee explained that this repeated a statement from a
newspaper of the day. However, the ACMA considered that Seven should have taken
steps to verify the accuracy of this claim before it was used as the foundation
for a panel discussion.
The ACMA noted the
follow-up 'Hot Topics' segment broadcast by Seven on 20 March 2018 was a more
informed discussion in which a panellist accurately described the true position
regarding placement of Indigenous children. However, the ACMA found that the
follow-up segment did not correct the earlier error in an appropriate manner in
the circumstances.
The ACMA
investigation also found that the segment provoked serious contempt on
the basis of race in breach of the Code as it contained strong negative
generalisations about Indigenous people as a group. These included sweeping
references to a ‘generation’ of young Indigenous children being abused. While
it may not have been Seven’s intention, by implication the segment conveyed
that children left in Indigenous families would be abused and neglected, in
contrast to non-Indigenous families where they would be protected.
‘Broadcasters can, of
course, discuss matters of public interest, including extremely sensitive
topics such as child abuse in Indigenous communities. However, such matters
should be discussed with care, with editorial framing to ensure compliance with
the Code,’ said ACMA Chair, Nerida O’Loughlin.
‘The ACMA considers that
the high threshold for this breach finding was met, given the strong negative
generalisations about Indigenous people as a group,’ added Ms O’Loughlin.
The ACMA is in discussions
with Channel Seven about its response to the breach findings. Channel Seven has
indicated that it may seek judicial review of the ACMA’s decision.
