Noel Pearson has launched a scathing attack on the ABC, describing it as the “miserable, racist national broadcaster” and accusing it of engaging in the “soft bigotry of low expectations”. Pearson attacked Labor for repudiating Keating’s legacy following his 1996 election defeat, something he described as Labor’s “most diabolical stupidity”. Pearson described the ABC as the “miserable, racist national broadcaster”, which was “willing the wretched to fail”. “Because, if it was not so, against whom could they direct their soft bigotry of low expectations, about whom could they report misery and bleeding tragedy? “But his advocacy for reconciliation and Mabo never wavered, because it was the right thing for the nation.”Keating was present at the launch and praised Pearson, saying he had always thought him to be “Australia’s Obama”.

Source: The Guardian November 21, 2016 05:00 UTC