The former ABC broadcaster Kerry O’Brien got a standing ovation at the 70th Walkley awards on Thursday night for a rousing speech that reminded media in the ICC Sydney ballroom of the “clear and present danger for a strong, free, effective and independent media everywhere”.
The winner of six Walkley awards, including the Gold, called on the industry to unite to strengthen press freedom. He began by paying tribute to Palestinian journalists who have “confronted the world with powerful evidence that has gradually taken on the look and feel of genocide in real time” and decried the “outrageous casualty list of Palestinian journalists and other media workers in Israel’s war on Gaza since the brutal attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens two years ago”.
The former 7.30 host highlighted comments made by Anthony Albanese when in opposition that have not translated to meaningful improvements in press freedom, whistleblower protection or uniform national shield laws.
“He’s certainly talked the talk, and to a degree he’s walked the walk, but given what’s at stake now and in a potentially very volatile climate ahead … we as an industry cannot afford to lose sight of important unfinished business,” O’Brien said.
“And if we think we’re doing it tough … remind yourself of those journalists in Gaza or Ukraine, or Russia or China, or Myanmar or Afghanistan who’ve been shut down or gone to prison, or gone to their graves for an ideal – for seeking to report the truth.”
After detailing the attacks on the press in the US and Saudi Arabia, O’Brien, 80, said: “Don’t kid yourself it can’t happen here.”
Male delivery
The chief executive officer of Media Diversity Australia, Paula Kruger, unleashed on the ABC for its record on diversity after our story about the all-male lineup at ABC Sydney after Chris Bath’s shock departure.
A former ABC Canberra and Perth radio presenter, Kruger pointed out that not only are all the Sydney local radio presenters from Breakfast to Drive male, they are also all white.
“If you are content with delivering an ‘all white is alright’ and ‘all bloke means we’re not woke’ line up to a 2025/26 audience, there is no saving you,” Kruger said on LinkedIn.
“Do you know the world outside your front door? Your audience does. How can they trust you when you can’t see the world they see?”
In response to audio director Ben Latimer’s comment that “there is always more to do” on diversity, Kruger said: “It has been more than a decade of ‘there is always more to do’. We’re told ‘there isn’t any culturally diverse talent’, ‘they still need a lot of work’, ‘we don’t want to set them up to fail’. Mate, the problem is you. The failure is yours.”
Latimer did not respond to a request for comment.
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