In his final episode of Q+A “for a while” host Stan Grant gave viewers an insight into Yindyamarra, a Wiradjuri ethic encompassing respect.
Grant on Friday said he was stepping away from his media roles.
He hosted a panel of five first-time politicians on Q+A on Monday.
And while the first audience question was to all the panel members, it was about the online hate that Grant has been subjected to and what needs to happen to stop hate speech, hate culture, and hate acceptance from continuing.
The panellists all gave heart-felt responses about looking out for one another and the need to do better, but Grant waited until his closing remarks to answer.
“Sometimes our souls are hurting – and so it is for me,” he said.
“I’ve had to learn that endurance is not always strength, sometimes it’s knowing when to stop.”
Grant thanked those who had sent messages of support.
And he had a message for those who had abused him and members of his family.
“If your aim was to hurt, well you’ve succeeded – and I’m sorry,” he said.
“Yindyamarra means I’m not just responsible for what I do, but for what you do.
“It is what it means to be Wiradjuri.
“It is the core of my being.
“It is respect … that comes from the earth we are born into from God, Biame.”
In a column for the ABC on Friday, Grant criticised the broadcaster for failing to publicly support him throughout his ordeal.
ABC staff rallied outside offices in Sydney and Melbourne on Monday after the renowned broadcaster said the abuse had accelerated following his critical remarks about the monarchy’s role in colonialism and he had had enough.
“It’s really hard to see him struggling and that he’s had to cop the racism and the disgusting filth that has been put online,” daughter Lowanna Grant told the Sydney rally.
“I’m so grateful for everyone here today supporting him … and all other First Nations journalists.”
Leigh Sales, Annabel Crabb, Joe O’Brien, Norman Swan and Grant’s wife, sports journalist Tracey Holmes, were among the crowd of 150 staff in Sydney to “stand with Stan” and all Indigenous journalists who endure a barrage of racism.
“The abuse that he cops doing his job is abhorrent and egregious and needs to stop,” ABC news director Justin Stevens said.
“I’m incredibly sorry that he felt let down by our organisation (and) that we could have done better by him in defending him.
“We will do whatever we can to make up for it.”
The ABC promised to review its response to racism affecting staff, in line with a recommendation from its internal Indigenous advisory committee.
ABC managing director David Anderson on Sunday apologised for failing to publicly support Grant.
“The ABC endeavours to support its staff in the unfortunate moments when there is external abuse directed at them,” he said.
In an email to staff, Mr Anderson said anti-ABC reporting from some commercial media outlets had been “sustained and vitriolic”.
“This has real-world consequences for ABC presenters and journalists who are personally attacked and vilified,” he wrote.
Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905
Australian Associated Press