ABC radio host Patricia Karvelas will replace Stan Grant as the host of ABC’s Q+A.
The national broadcaster confirmed the announcement on Monday, about two months after Grant stood down, saying he had faced “relentless” racial abuse in the aftermath of the ABC’s coverage of the King Charles’ Coronation.
Karvelas will continue to host Breakfast on Radio National from Tuesday to Friday, and has been filling in as the program’s anchor following Grant’s resignation.
Penning an emotional piece in May, Grant announced he was stepping down from his hosting duties indefinitely, after copious abuse from the media and social media.
“Racism is a crime. Racism is violence. And I have had enough,” he wrote.
He also criticised the ABC’s senior management for not publicly supporting him amid the backlash.
“I am writing this because no one at the ABC — whose producers invited me onto their coronation coverage as a guest — has uttered one word of public support,” he wrote.
“Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me.
“I don’t hold any individual responsible; this is an institutional failure.”
Grant will continue to stay on at ABC and contribute to “a number” of different programs, with the broadcaster’s director Justin Stevens commending him as “one of the country’s finest journalists, storytellers and broadcasters”.
“We want to do all we can to support Stan and ensure he continues to play a major role in Australian media.
“He has the ability to lead our media toward a kinder and more constructive conversation,” he said.
“In Wiradjuri ‘dyiraamalang’ means a teacher and leader. Stan Grant, a proud Wiradjuri man, is both of those things and I’m looking forward to seeing what he does into the future.”
Mr Stevens said Karvelas “has been doing an outstanding job as fill-in host and we’re delighted she has agreed to continue in that role”.
More to come