Veteran journalist and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant has said he would consider entering federal politics because of a responsibility he feels to continue to advocate for Indigenous Australians “who still suffer in this country”.
Grant, who is Guardian Australia’s Indigenous Affairs editor, made the comments to the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night after being asked “What do you think of Noel Pearson’s regret that he did not enter politics some years ago? Would you consider seeking election in the federal parliament?”
Grant replied that the response to a speech he gave last year on Indigenous Australians which went viral, prompted him to think about entering federal politics.
“The response to the speech that I gave, I found so overwhelming and overwhelmingly positive,” Grant said.
“To be honest, it blew me away in the first few days ... the ground sort of shifted beneath my feet. Clearly, there is a responsibility and obligation to the words in that speech.”
Stan Grant would consider entering politics. Our #QandA panel also responds https://t.co/958t94sb7W
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) February 1, 2016
In his speech given to the Ethics Centre in Sydney last year, Grant told the audience that racism is “at the heart of the Australian dream”, as he delivered a sobering speech about the impact of colonisation and discrimination on Indigenous people and their ancestors.
While there had been no solid offers to enter federal politics, “it is in my thoughts”, Grant told Q&A.
“[Whether it’s] federal politics or advocacy or staying in the media and continuing to do what I do. This is a great country and my people still suffer in this country.”
It follows comments made by Pearson during an address to the National Press Club last week that he regretted not going into politics 15 years ago, as he felt he had “hit the limit of how much influence you can have barking from the outside”.
Grant’s openness to entering politics generated a positive response on Twitter.
Stan Grant is interested in Federal Politics. Political leaders texting him as I type #Qanda
— PatriciaKarvelas (@PatsKarvelas) February 1, 2016
Tonight's @QandA is one of the best I've ever seen.
— Emma Jane Phillips (@emmajanereading) February 1, 2016
Can Stan Grant go into politics, please?#auspol
On Tuesday morning, Labor Senator Penny Wong told ABC radio that Grant would be “a fine addition to federal parliament”.
