Two months after he stepped down from hosting Q+A after receiving “grotesque racist abuse”, Stan Grant has chosen to walk away from the high-profile role for new ABC projects.
RN Breakfast host Patricia Karvelas, who has been a stand-in presenter, will front the program for the rest of the year, as well as hosting the radio show from Tuesday to Friday.
“Patricia Karvelas has been doing an outstanding job as fill-in host and we’re delighted she has agreed to continue in that role,” the ABC news director, Justin Stevens, said.
The racist abuse of Grant escalated after he spoke on the ABC about the impact of colonialism on a panel ahead of the King’s coronation.
Stevens said the ABC respected and supported Grant’s decision.
“Stan Grant is one of the country’s finest journalists, storytellers and broadcasters and we will be delighted to have his contribution across a number of different ABC programs,” Stevens said on Monday.
“We want to do all we can to support Stan and ensure he continues to play a major role in Australian media. He has the ability to lead our media toward a kinder and more constructive conversation.
“In Wiradjuri ‘dyiraamalang’ means a teacher and leader. Stan Grant, a proud Wiradjuri man, is both of those things and I’m looking forward to seeing what he does into the future.
Voice correspondent and The Drum presenter Dan Bourchier will host a special edition of Q+A from the Garma Festival, presenting a range of views from the all-Indigenous panel.
“Dan is doing terrific work in a key role covering the voice to parliament debate and referendum, and having him anchor the program from Garma will be another important part of this,” Stevens said.
Grant said in a column published on the ABC website in May that after Monday’s episode he was “walking away”.
“Since the King’s coronation, I have seen people in the media lie and distort my words,” he said. “They have tried to depict me as hate filled. They have accused me of maligning Australia.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. My ancestors would not allow me to be filled with hate.”
Stevens took aim at the “usual sections of the media” for stirring up the hate by distorting Grant’s contribution to the debate, and apologised for not being supportive enough.
The managing director of the ABC, David Anderson, also apologised to Grant after he stood down. “Stan Grant has stated that he has not felt publicly supported,” Anderson said.
“For this, I apologise to Stan. The ABC endeavours to support its staff in the unfortunate moments when there is external abuse directed at them.”
