Rugby League Indigenous Council Chair Linda Burney has described remarks made by ABC sports commentator Warren Ryan during coverage of last week’s Sydney Roosters-Canterbury Bulldogs NRL match as "unacceptable".
Ryan used the term "old darky," during the second half of a game between the Sydney Roosters and Canterbury Bulldogs last Friday.
He can be heard saying: "There's a line in a movie where the old darky says, someone says, 'quittin' time'.
"He said, 'it's not quittin' time. I say quittin' time.' Then he yells out, 'quittin' time!'
"In other words you mustn't do that, that's our job."
The remarks prompted laughter from commentary partner, David Morrow.
Ms Burney told NITV there was no excuse for the remark.
"This is Reconciliation Week and his comments, no matter how he wants to explain it, are completely unacceptable," she said.
"We know he was referring to a line from 'Gone with the Wind' but the way he introduced that line about 'quitting time' and using the term 'darky' - that was not part of the script of the movie, that's something that this gentlemen has said."
NITV contacted the ABC for a response and a spokesperson confirmed Ryan and Morrow had been asked to submit a formal response.
The ABC said there would be no further comment until the investigation is complete.
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