Studio 10 cleared by watchdog over broadcasting Kerri-Anne Kennerley’s inflammatory Indigenous comments
The broadcast industry’s watchdog – the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) – has revealed the results of its investigation into Ten’s morning show Studio 10 following complaints against Kerri-Anne Kennerley.
During a debate on the panel program about moving the date of Australia Day away from 26 January, Kennerley said “it was a couple of hundred years ago. Get over it. Let’s just move on” in relation to Indigenous Australians’ concerns around the white invasion of Australia.
She also said those protesting for a date change had done “zippo” to help Indigenous people in the “outback” where “children, babies, five-year-olds are being raped, their mothers are being raped, their sisters are being raped, they get no education”.
The ACMA received just two complaints against the segment.
“She used false data, incorrect and racist statements in an attempt to discredit the protest by showing serious contempt and severe ridicule to the Indigenous Australians,” one of the complaints said.
ACMA then undertook an investigation into whether the broadcast breached section 2.6.2 of the Commercial Television Code of Practice, which states a broadcaster must not screen content likely “to provoke or perpetuate in, or by a reasonable person, intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule against a person or group of people because of age, colour, gender, national or ethnic origin, disability, race, religion or sexual preference”.
KAK: ‘I’m not a racist’
WIN – the regional affiliate of Ten which broadcast the segment – submitted to the ACMA that a reasonable person would not have watched the segment and felt “that they were being urged, stimulated or encouraged by the segment to share or maintain feelings of intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule against Indigenous people on the grounds of race”.
“Ms Kennerley did not suggest that all indigenous communities experienced such abuse or that all indigenous men were guilty of such abuse. Her point was that the top priority should be addressing family violence and abuse rather than the merits of the date of Australia Day,” WIN contended in its defence.
“Furthermore Ms Kennerley’s comments were forcefully challenged by guest panellist Yumi Stynes who stated, ‘Every time you open your mouth you’re sounding racist’. It was clear from the segment in its entirety that the hosts were expressing their differing views and the segment was strongly contested.
“Given the robust exchange and contrary views, a reasonable person would not likely consider that they were being urged by the program to share or maintain feelings of intense dislike, serious contempt or severe ridicule on the basis of race.”
The ACMA agreed with WIN, and found broadcasting Kennerley’s comments did not breach the Code.
“As the ACMA has previously noted, broadcasting views that may be offensive or controversial does not, in and of itself, constitute a breach of the relevant Code provisions,” it said in its 12-page findings.
It noted that Kennerley’s comments were problematic – “the emphatic and sweeping suggestion by Ms Kennerley of endemic sexual abuse in Indigenous communities could be capable of provoking strong negative feelings in a reasonable person” – but said Stynes’ strong rebukes helped to balance the discussion.
Don't be tricked by this headline.
ACMA didn't clear KAK. It cleared Channel 10. ACMA found that KAK's comments were based on RACE and were capable of "generating strong negative feelings…" https://t.co/16IS2aWsx9
— Yumi Stynes (@yumichild) October 5, 2019
“The ACMA is of the view that, when considered as a whole, the segment would have conveyed to the ordinary reasonable viewer that sexual violence and abuse in remote Indigenous communities was an issue over which people had differing points of view. The segment was not, therefore, likely in all the circumstances, to provoke or perpetuate in the ordinary reasonable viewer, intense dislike or serious contempt against Indigenous people because of race.”
I’m with Kez…. get over it, there are worse things (currently) in life!
Bravo on being cleared.
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After working 30 odd years in NT and WA as both a nurse and many years as Aged Care Manager and Coordinator, My work has taken me to 53 communities so I defend KAK’s comments totally. To all those Indigenous people who wish to protest and are Hard Done By time they went to really remote area communities and open their eyes wide and offer every bit of assistance they can possible give. Also all the people who have so much to say because they have a degree, some even working bush but do not have a clue and make work for those on the ground floor nearly impossible what they did before in cities need a total rethink especially those who work for the mega shires. Culture thanks to drugs etc being brought into communities and younger people forgetting respect for Elders and learning the Culture. Elderly people are being robbed of their Basic Cards and yes that is only a small part of the sadness that is happening out there. People like MS Styles need to spend longest time out bush in real communities opening her eyes and listening to real people. Love the show. Keep up the great work.
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Free speech . O am sick of conforming to the minority
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I am with kerry ann kennerly ??☹☹?
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Nearly every day last year, at Central Station in Sydney while going to work, I was approached by two Aboriginal women, one with a toddler in tow, asking me for money in exchange for sex. I demurely declined, but gave them spare change. When I didn’t go into the toilets and ‘fuck them’ they called me a faggot (yes, I’m gay). They encouraged the three-year old to spit on me. If Aboriginal people want equality and respect – get a job, get an education and learn to earn money, save some cash and build wealth.
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I don’t like reading comments because you can see how bad it really is T-T
People living down south why you have to be like this… people just trying like everyone else to get by.
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….Sorry, homeboy
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these comments are just disgraceful, hateful and racist. meanwhile thousands of redneck idiots are trampling up uluru just to spit in the face of indigenous traditions one last time. hang your head in shame white australia. again.
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Great retort, with racist terms yourself. If you’re not with us, you must be against us – that attitude doesn’t fly these days.
Time to grow up and see that people are allowed to have opinions that may conflict with your own, and jumping on the tokenism bandwagon of ‘White Australia’ is really just sad and to be frank, quite pathetic.
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KAK: “History is history. You may not like it, but it is what it is.”
Also KAK, two minutes and fifteen seconds later: “It happened a couple hundred years ago!!! Get over it!!!”
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KAK was spot on!
Australia Day is January 26.
Get over it!
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This is a good outcome. I believe that any argument must have a balance, it is wrong to use PC or guilt as a buffer to stifle either side of an argument. Truth and positive change will come from expressing opinions in an open and honest manner. Kerri-Anne Kennerly has stated her opinions on an open media platform, without prejudice or aggression.
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Until I read the first few comments I had no idea the Mumbrella audience was such a hotbed of ignorance & white privilege.
Yuck
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I’ll climb Uluru just to spit on your comment. And I’m of Asian descent.
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So the antics of two Aboriginal women have exposed “the rest” for “what they are”. No typecasting here then … (and of course no self respecting, unemployed, NON-Aboriginal woman-mother-of-toddler would do this would they?)
And why drop the “gay” moniker in there? So what if you are? Or are not?
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I suspect you belong in the climate change protests outside, dressed like a dying bee – not behind your desk judging Mumbrella comments.
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I contribute to global warming like many others, yes I fart like you do regularly, so what is the problem? Maybe the younger generation today prefers to “blow” instead of “fart”? Well go ahead this is a democracy for all.
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Yumi Stynes is of Asian descent too. Racists like you two are just stupid people who like to talk too much. White Australian is not a bandwagon it’s a gaggle of backslapping fools. Go watch some Ellen…
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Some of these comments leave a lot to be desired. This country has a serious heart problem and has a long way to go. I am truly blessed to have the Indigenous Australian friends I have. They have enriched my life no end.
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Kerri anne kennerley should have been fired over the racists remarks if she worked any where else she would be lose her job and it would be put on resume so that way she will never work again over that outburst on Australia day
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What about the fear that coloured people have of white people? This fear is very real based on derogatory comments and other kinds of intimidation. KAK has not educated herself on race issues.
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