Arabic version: لجنة إعلامية تحذّر من تضرر النقاش حول السكان الأصليين

According to ABC News, media leaders at the Garma Festival said social media disinformation and racism have damaged public discussion of Indigenous affairs following the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum.

ABC chair Kim Williams told a media panel in north-east Arnhem Land that disinformation had become a pervasive threat to civil and positive debate by politicians and media organisations. He described it as an “insidious force in society” and said social media was a “genuine social cancer”.

NITV journalist John Paul Janke said the referendum had “unleashed racism”, with NITV and SBS hiring external social media moderators to manage extreme racist comments attached to online stories. He said governments were too afraid to correct disinformation because they did not want to create a culture war.

Former Australian editor-in-chief Chris Mitchell said political leaders had “dropped the ball” on Indigenous affairs since the referendum and had simply moved on. Earlier at the festival, Shadow Indigenous Affairs Minister Julian Leeser accused the Albanese government of being “adrift” on Indigenous policy and lacking direction since the Voice.

Former ABC Insiders host Barrie Cassidy said politicians could make major commitments while on Aboriginal country before walking them back in Parliament House. He cited Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s promise at last year’s Garma Festival to attend Gulkula annually; Albanese did not attend this year, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong attending instead. Cassidy also recalled Bob Hawke’s 1988 treaty promise at the Barunga Festival, which did not happen.