Veteran ABC commentator suspended by national broadcaster management over racist jibe

Sydney: Veteran Rugby League caller and the voice of Rugby League for ABC Radio David Morrow has been suspended by the national broadcaster management over his racist comments on Darwin Aborigines, pending a probe into the alleged racist remarks.

Not realizing he was on air, Morrow had joked with Shannon Byrne who hails from Darwin about electricity not yet available in the Northern territory capital. An ABC spokesperson has said that Morrow has been suspended from all his duties as the ABC commentator and his expertise on coverage of rugby league both on TV and Radio since 1980 will not prevent him from undergoing an investigation for his racist comments. According to the report, the longest-serving indigenous broadcaster at the ABC, Darwin-based Charlie King , took the comments as offensive, which ABC Grandstand manager Craig Norenbergs believes to be disappointing. Norenbergs added that ABC`s managerial values and his personal viewpoint do not favour racism in any form, even though it comes from a credential broadcaster such as Morrow who has had a 40 year career span at the news station. ANI