ABC has been criticised by the Australian Jewish Association after Spicks & Specks last night featured a singer wearing a “Free Palestine” t-shirt.
Singer-songwriter Adrian Eagle performed the show’s “Secret Song” at the end of the episode, in which a song that has been the subject of clues, is performed as the closing number.
Last night “I Will Survive” was given a ballad rendition, in part reversioned with the words, “We Will Survive” along with a raised fist.
Dr David Adler, President of the Australian Jewish Association told TV Tonight, “Why the ABC should allow an overtly anti-Israel political slogan to be broadcast by a singer, is a question for its management. To do this at a time when there is a large amount of threatening activism on our streets, borders on the irresponsible.
“It should not be the role of the publicly-funded broadcaster to normalise and embolden such activism.”
On social media some Jewish-Australian viewers also objected to the show making what they considered to be a political stance. The episode drew 335,000 viewers, down from 387,000 the previous Sunday.
A week earlier Spicks & Specks also drew some negative response for including PM Anthony Albanese as a panelist. It isn’t clear if invitations had also been sent to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Greens Leader Adam Bandt or other pollies.
In the January – June 2024 ABC Ombudsman mid-year update, complaints around the Israel / Gaza war represented 24% of all complaints.
The inclusion of the Free Palestine t-shirt, recorded earlier this year, is likely to put the show on the agenda at the next Senate Estimates hearing in early November, when managing director David Anderson faces his next grilling.
ABC has been contacted for comment.
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