Stan Grant’s emotional farewell shocked ABC viewers last week — but it has now been revealed that he is set to return to screens in eight weeks.
It was revealed today as the ABC appeared before the Senate after facing questions about the events that led up to the veteran presenter’s decision to stand down due to racist abuse.
ABC managing director David Anderson said Grant, who revealed on Q+A he needed a “time out”, had highlighted problems faced by other First Nations staff.
“I’m worried about Stan but I’m also worried about our other staff. I’m worried about our First Nations staff as we head towards a referendum on the voice, to make sure that they are sufficiently protected,” Anderson said.
Grant announced last week he was “walking away” from Q+A over abuse he copped.
However, Justin Stevens, ABC head of news revealed on Wednesday that Grant has in fact taken eight weeks of leave and has not resigned. Stevens said he hoped the presenter will return to work after his time away is completed.
Grant said the breaking point was vile criticism directed at him following his discussion of colonisation on the ABC’s coverage of the coronation of King Charles.
“Since the King’s coronation, I have seen people in the media lie and distort my words. They have tried to depict me as hate filled. They have accused me of maligning Australia.”
Grant said “nothing could be further from the truth” and his ancestors would not allow him to be “filled with hate”.
“I don’t take time out because of racism … I take time out because we have shown again that our history — our hard truth — is too big, too fragile, and too precious for the media.
“I am writing this not because I think it will make a difference. No doubt the haters will twist this, too, and trigger another round of racism.”
Stevens said the segment Grant appeared in was just part of the Coronation coverage and fitted within the ABC’s role to facilitate “such important conversations, however confronting and uncomfortable, and to reflect the diversity of perspectives.”
The ABC Ombudsman is investigating the editorial complaints received about the coverage.
He said the responsibility for the coverage lies with ABC News management, not Grant.
“Yet he it is he who has borne the brunt of a tirade of criticism, particularly in the usual section of the media that target the ABC,” he said in a statement.
“Reporting on his contribution to the panel discussion has been unfair, inaccurate and irresponsible. It has contributed to fuelling horrendous personal and racial abuse.”
Grant said “sometimes strength is knowing when to stop”, admitting that the abuse has made a significant negative impact on both him and his family.
“Sometimes, we need to just take time out. Sometimes, our souls are hurting and so it is for me. I’ve had to learn that endurance is not always strength. Sometimes, strength is knowing when to say stop,” Grant said at the conclusion of Monday night’s Q+A.
“And to those who have sent messages of support, thank you so much. But I’ll be OK. Please, send that support and care to those of my people, and all people who feel abandoned and alone, who are wondering whether they have a place in this country and who don’t have my privileges.
“To those who have abused me and my family, I would just say – if your aim was to hurt me, well, you’ve succeeded, and I’m sorry.
“I’m sorry that I must have given you so much cause to hate me so much, to target me and my family, to make threats against me. I’m sorry. And that’s what yindyamarra means. It means that I am not just responsible for what I do, but for what you do.”