Adjudication No. 375 (July 1988) [1988] APC 22

ADJUDICATION No. 375 (July 1988)

Ms P. Trezise of the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria complains of the use of the word "Blacks" to describe Aborigines in the Latrobe Valley. Ms Trezise claims that members of the Aboriginal community are angry and distressed by the headlines in the Latrobe Valley Express of March 25 which read "LV BLACKS GET NEW CHILD CARE CENTRE". It is further claimed that the headline is prejudicial and demonstrates a lack of sensitivity and respect for the Aboriginal community.

The Press Council agrees that the use of the term "Blacks" to describe Aborigines may be inappropriate because so many Aboriginal people are of mixed descent and could not be accurately described as being black. It believes the term Aborigine is best used to describe indigenous Australians.

However, many Aborigines have, at times, referred to themselves as being black and the use of the term by a newspaper to describe Aborigines is understandable. The term "Black" to describe Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders has been used by the National Aboriginal Conference and other Aboriginal organisations.

The complaint is dismissed; however, the Press Council has discussed this issue on a number of previous occasions and reiterates its view that care is needed in the use of the word "Black" to avoid any racist connotation.