Demand for apology from radio station

Melbourne community radio station Triple R (3RRR) is facing criticism after a presenter linked a land acknowledgement to a pro-Palestinian slogan during a live broadcast, and the station’s manager defended the remarks in response to a formal complaint.

During the “Stolen Moments” program on Saturday, February 28, a fill-in volunteer presenter identified only as “Lucy” concluded the station’s standard Wurundjeri land acknowledgement with the words: “in the spirit of acknowledging stolen land as always Free Palestine from the river to the sea.”

A Melbourne Jewish listener who wishes to remain anonymous lodged a formal complaint, describing the phrase as “a blatant call for the destruction of the State of Israel” that “does not recognise Jewish roots in that region and thus Jewish identity and is therefore antisemitic.”

The listener called for a public apology and confirmation that the presenter had been “admonished and educated,” warning he would not return as a listener otherwise.

In a response dated March 11, station manager Dave Houchin rejected the characterisation of the “river to the sea” slogan.