ABC counsels Laura Tingle over ‘racist country’ comments but journalist stands by remarks

Laura Tingle has been counselled by the ABC after she said Australia was a ‘racist country’ at the Sydney writers’ festival. She maintains Australia clearly ‘has a problem with racism’. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The ABC’s news director, Justin Stevens, says Laura Tingle’s remarks at the Sydney writers’ festival did not meet the ABC’s editorial standards and she has been counselled.

But in a lengthy statement, Tingle, the chief political correspondent of 7.30, stood by her comments, while acknowledging they lacked context and nuance in a “free-flowing” panel discussion.