ABC boss apologises to Stan Grant, who left Q+A over racial abuse

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ABC managing director David Anderson has apologised to Indigenous presenter Stan Grant and announced a review into the way the national broadcast responds to racism affecting its workers.

Grant on Friday stepped down as the host of Q+A, citing "relentless" racial abuse that had intensified since he criticised the crown's role in injustices suffered by First Nations peoples since colonisation.

The award-winning host also criticised the ABC for failing to support him publicly while he was subjected to the abuse.

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Presenter, host and journalist Stan Grant is stepping down from ABC's Q+A.

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"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," he wrote, in a column.

On Sunday, Anderson sent an email to ABC staff apologising to the Wiradjuri man.

"How the ABC supports people in these moments is important," he said. 

"Stan Grant has stated that he has not felt publicly supported. For this, I apologise to Stan. 

"The ABC endeavours to support its staff in the unfortunate moments when there is external abuse directed at them."

Anderson also hit out at "some commercial media outlets" for what he described as "sustained and vitriolic" "anti-ABC reporting", saying it had real-world effects on presenters and journalists.

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Stan Grant said he has been subjected to relentless racial abuse which has worsened since he appeared on the ABC's coverage of the coronation of King Charles III.

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Anderson described Grant's experiences since the coronation broadcast as "distressing and confronting".

"Racism must never be tolerated, and I am dismayed that Stan has been exposed to such sickening behaviour," Anderson said.

"Stan has our full support. And he has always had our full support. Stan makes an enormous contribution to conversations of national importance."

The ABC's Bonner Committee, which advises the broadcaster on matters linked to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, content and other issues, asked the managing director to review the way the organisation responds to racism affecting staff, a request he accepted.