Channel Seven presenter Samantha Armytage and radio personality Prue MacSween are being sued in the Federal Court over a controversial Sunrise segment concerning child removal in Indigenous communities.
Led by Aboriginal elder Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovenor, eight complainants have now taken their case to the courts after they say settlement negotiations broke down.
"Sunrise... platformed wealthy white women calling for a Stolen Generations 2.0 as a means of salvation for our young people," Aunty Rhonda said in a statement on Thursday.
"This shameful, profoundly hurtful and devastating display of racism was broadcast by a commercial television station into homes right across Australia; the dignity of all Aboriginal people and children was violated in our very own homes and lounge rooms."
The segment in question, broadcast on 13 March, 2018, saw the all-white panel including radio host Ben Davis discuss Indigenous child protection.
"Please don't worry about the people who will decry and hand wring and say this will be another Stolen Generation," Ms MacSween said during the broadcast.
Sunrise presenter Samantha Armytage. Source: AAP
"Just like the first Stolen Generation, where a lot of children that were taken because it was for their wellbeing, we need to do it again."
Later that year, the Australian Communications and Media Authority found that Seven breached the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice by including a factual inaccuracy and inciting contempt or ridicule on the basis of someone's race.
Seven later agreed to issue a formal apology and pay an undisclosed amount to 15 members of the remote Yirrkala community in the Northern Territory who were featured in file footage during the segment.
Joining Aunty Rhonda in the group complaint is award-winning writer, producer and actress Trisha Morton-Thomas.
"Aboriginal cultures practise responsibility and obligations to our much-loved children and our families, this is the core of our cultures," she wrote in the complaint.
"We ask to be treated with dignity and humanity as together we try to heal the hurts of the past 248 years."
A Seven spokesperson told SBS News it was not aware the group was taking the case to the Federal Court.
“Although we don’t disbelieve the reports, Seven is not aware of any actual claim being filed at this stage – so is not able to comment on this action," the spokesperson said.
"Seven settled the original matter in late 2019 in the Federal Court with the Yirrkala community and the Yolngu families and offered an unreserved apology on air shortly after.”
