Andrew Bolt found guilty of racial discrimination

News Limited columnist and Channel TEN presenter Andrew Bolt has been found guilty of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act following two articles published in the Herald Sun in 2009 and two posts on Bolt’s blog on the paper’s website.

A class-action was brought against Bolt by nine individuals arguing that he offended, upset and demeaned them.

At issue was Bolt’s assertion that the nine applicants had chosen to identify themselves as “Aboriginal” and consequently win grants, prizes and career advancement, despite their apparently fair skin and mixed heritage.

The articles were headlined “It’s so hip to be black” and “White fellas in the black”.

The nine also sought an apology from the Herald & Weekly Times and an order against republishing, but no compensation.

Justice Bromberg said, “I am satisfied that fair-skinned Aboriginal people (or some of them) were reasonably likely … to have been offended, insulted, humiliated or intimidated by the imputations conveyed by the newspaper articles.

“People should be free to fully identify with their race without fear of public disdain or loss of esteem for so identifying,” he said.

“On the basis of my findings, I am satisfied that each of Mr Bolt and the Herald & Weekly Times engaged in conduct which contravened section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act.”

Both parties will confer on relief arising from the action. It isn’t clear if an appeal will be launched.

Source: Herald Sun, ABC, The Age