The ABC has apologised to Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Jacinta Price (pictured) after she launched defamation proceedings against the national broadcaster for its coverage of her 2019 speaking tour in which it accused her of spreading “racist vitriol”.
Deputy Mayor Price had taken legal action against the public broadcaster, which was dropped as part of a settlement which included a public apology.
The incident related to the ABC’s coverage of a presentation Ms Price delivered in Coffs Harbour in September, and on-air claims made by the Coffs Harbour and District Local Aboriginal Land Council.
In documents tendered to the Federal Court, the Alice SPrings Deputy Mayor claimed the land council and the ABC had wrongly accused her of vilifying aboriginal people and their culture.
The ABC issued an apology to the Ms Price this morning and noted the land council had also withdrawn and apologised to her for statements which it accepted were incorrect.
“The ABC understands that the land council has withdrawn and apologised to Ms Price for statements contained in that media release which it accepts were false and defamatory,” ABC Radio Breakfast Presenter, Fiona Poole said on-air.
“The ABC did not endorse the opinions contained in the media release and apologises to Ms Price and her family for the hurt and distress caused by broadcasting those views.”
