The ABC has come under fire from Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson for awarding former Australian of the Year Grace Tame a taxpayer-funded position.
Autistic AF with Grace Tame, ABC’s new podcast series, debuted on the network’s We Need To Talk series on Tuesday.
It happened just months after Tame claimed that her notorious pro-Palestine remarks had prevented her from finding employment.
The ABC’s decision to hire Tame was deemed “untenable” by the shadow communications minister on Tuesday.Henderson stated, “The national broadcaster should be exercising the highest standards of judgement, not rewarding individuals who have undermined social cohesion and spread false information about one of the worst terrorist atrocities in modern history. Hugh Marks, the managing director and editor-in-chief of the ABC, must explain how this decision is consistent with the ABC’s editorial standards and statutory obligation to disseminate news and information impartially and accurately.”Jewish Australians find this decision extremely offensive, and it does little to dispel the idea that the ABC offers anti-Israel radicals a safe home.
Tame, who was sexually abused as a youngster by a 58-year-old instructor, has fought for human rights and legal improvements.
Autistic AF with Grace Tame (above), ABC’s latest audio series, debuted on Tuesday.
Sarah Henderson, the Shadow Communications Minister (above), criticized the ABC’s choice, pointing out Tame’s polarizing pro-Palestine remarks.
She has faced widespread condemnation in recent months for her polarizing pro-Palestine remarks, which included spearheading a slogan to “globalize the intifada.”
Although some people find the slogan insulting and hateful, it encourages Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation.
Tame received criticism in March for an interview with Hamish Macdonald, host of ABC Sydney Mornings.
On behalf of a listener who said they had never heard her denounce or speak out about Israeli women who were raped and killed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, Macdonald questioned why she is “selective in her outrage.”
“Hamish, I’m not going to go so far as to entertain propaganda of any kind.” Tame remarked, “Let’s not do that.” Macdonald questioned, “What is the propaganda included in that question?”
“Those claims have been refuted,” Tame stated. There is violence on both sides, but this conflict is unfair. We are not discussing two cohorts that are even slightly equivalent.
Macdonald brought up the conclusions of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, which said that there were good reasons to suspect that sexual violence related to the conflict occurred during the attacks.
Tame’s (above) ABC podcast delves into the experiences of women and gender nonconforming individuals with autism.
Tame seemed to retract her remarks when he questioned whether that was “propaganda,” stating that “awful things are being perpetrated by both sides.”
However, “whataboutism” is not the issue here. Selective anger is not the issue here. All of the brutality has me furious. She stated, “I obviously don’t support any of it.”
“How can Australians be expected to trust the ABC when it hires a high-profile activist who spread false information?” asked Minister Henderson in reference to Tame’s remarks regarding the October 7 assaults.
“Mr. Marks should also disclose what, if any, restrictions have been placed on Ms. Tame to ensure she refrains from using this podcast as a platform for anti-Israel activism or does not engage in conduct which brings the ABC into disrepute,” she stated. “Australians are entitled to know whether the ABC conducted any assessment of Ms. Tame’s public statements and activism before offering her this role and whether it considered the impact this appointment would have on public confidence and trust in the broadcaster.”This incident further demonstrates the necessity of the ABC being called before the Royal Commission into antisemitism, as the Coalition has advocated, given the ongoing public debate about whether the ABC is meeting community expectations in identifying, addressing, and preventing antisemitism in all its forms.
Tame’s experiences with food and sound sensitivity, as well as “masking,” are all explored in the new series, which delves at the lives of women and gender-diverse individuals with autism.
In the first episode, she informed ABC host Yumi Stynes that “masking is effectively hiding or changing your traits, needs, or interests in order to navigate a world designed primarily for neurotypical people.”
After leading a “globalise the intifada” shout at a pro-Palestine demonstration (see above), Tame claimed she had trouble finding employment. “The toll of masking can be catastrophic, because those needs still need to be met,” she said.
I utilized drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, which is regrettably common and readily available. I now use cycling and jogging as a way to control my emotions.
“Exercise has been a really effective tool for trauma recovery and emotional regulation, and it also allows me to socialize in a way that doesn’t require small talk.”
