Protest outside ABC in Melbourne

Around 80 people gathered outside the ABC building in Melbourne on Tuesday, protesting against bias in its coverage of the Middle East.

Members of the Jewish and Persia/Iranian communities were present at the event, organised by a group affiliated with Never Again is Now (NAIN).

Among those who spoke at the gathering was Rabbi Daniel Rabin of Caulfield Hebrew Congregation.

He told The AJN, “If you’re going to report about Israel, make sure you do it accurately, because the narrative leads back to us.

“I know many in my community who don’t even watch ABC anymore, because it really hurts them every time they turn on the channel.”

The protest comes amid calls for the ABC and fellow public broadcaster SBS to be examined as part of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

Both taxpayer-funded organisations recently announced that they have chosen not to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism.

The ABC, meanwhile, this week announced a new podcast hosted by activist Grace Tame, who has rejected accounts of Hamas sexual violence on October 7 and was widely condemned for leading chants of “Globalise the Intifada” at a protest in February.

Shadow Minister for Communications Sarah Henderson said on Tuesday that the ABC’s decision to employ Tame was untenable. “How can Australians be expected to trust the ABC when it hires a high-profile activist who spread false information about the barbaric October 7 terrorist attacks and engaged in conduct which promotes hostility towards Jewish people?,” Henderson asked.

She called on ABC managing director and editor-in-chief Hugh Marks to “explain how this decision is consistent with the ABC’s editorial standards and statutory obligation to disseminate news and information impartially and accurately”.

“Australians are entitled to know whether the ABC conducted any assessment of Ms Tame’s public statements and activism before offering her this role, and whether it considered the impact this appointment would have on public confidence and trust in the broadcaster,” Henderson said.

“Given the ongoing public debate as to whether the ABC is meeting community expectations in identifying, addressing, and preventing antisemitism in all its forms, this incident further evidences the need for the ABC to be called before the Royal Commission into antisemitism as the Coalition has advocated.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said, “It seems the ABC has determined that Grace Tame is fit for employment at public expense after screaming chants widely interpreted as calling for global attacks on Jews and a radio interview in which she doubled down on her comments questioning the widespread pack rape and sexual torture committed by Hamas, which the terrorists themselves never denied.

“Everyone deserves a second chance but Tame has shown no remorse or regret whatsoever. The effect of this is to legitimise her violent views and sends a message that her obscene conduct carries no consequences and even brings public contracts.”