Virginia Trioli, a prominent host on ABC Radio Melbourne, has voiced her concerns over what she describes as the ‘censorship and suppression’ of Grace Tame. This follows Tame’s assertion that all her profitable speaking engagements were abruptly called off after her participation in a pro-Palestine rally.

Grace Tame, who earned national recognition as Australian of the Year, joined a rally in February outside Sydney’s Town Hall, where she chanted ‘globalise the intifada’ in protest of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s state visit.

Since her involvement in the rally, Tame, a survivor of child sexual assault, claims she has been targeted by a deliberate smear campaign orchestrated by conservative figures and media outlets. She articulated her plight in a piece for Crikey, noting, ‘I shouldn’t have to say this, but I’m currently up against a well-oiled, well-funded political propaganda machine whose aim is to frighten everyone into complicity by maligning its critics.’

Tame expressed the personal toll this has taken, sharing, ‘I’ve lost several close friends for speaking the truth. I’ve been publicly vilified over and over and over again. In under a month, my livelihood has been completely destroyed.’

Trioli, reflecting on the situation, described it as ‘beyond understanding’ that someone she considers ‘brave, necessary and admirable’ like Tame is being caught in a ‘culture of censorship and suppression’.

Trioli, 60, said it was ‘beyond understanding’ that someone as ‘brave, necessary and admirable’ as Tame was being subjected to a ‘culture of censorship and suppression’. 

‘Over my many years in journalism I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time with and interrogate the ideas of other important cultural dissidents like Gloria Steinem, Ai Wei Wei and Margaret Atwood – and Grace Tame, and she is up there with all these great leaders for the urgency of her mission, the clarity of her ideas and her indefatigable courage,’ she wrote on Instagram on Friday night. 

‘Let her bloody speak. Debate her ideas – listen to her real experience and can we please abandon this cancerous culture of the repression of opinions?’ 

Trioli, 60, said it was ‘beyond understanding’ that someone as ‘brave, necessary and admirable’ as Tame was being subject to a ‘culture of censorship and suppression’

Tame, 31, led chants of ‘globalise the intifada’ outside Sydney’s Town Hall in February at a rally protesting Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s state visit

Fans of the veteran radio host were divided in the comments of the Instagram post, with one saying she was ‘very disappointed’ by the endorsement. 

‘I am very disappointed in you, Virginia. I have been a long-term fan but you have misjudged her,’ they wrote. 

‘Great leaders are not like Grace. Great leaders do not cause harm or division.’

‘Many women were upset by her hatred Virginia. Brave people make mistakes too and perhaps Grace could reflect on this,’ a second wrote. 

But others applauded Trioli. 

‘Thank you Virginia. We need more public voices calling this out and standing behind Grace,’ one person wrote.

‘Could not agree more. I am deeply ashamed and saddened by the direction in which our country is heading,’ a second said. 

Trioli’s post comes just hours after Tame accused the ABC of pandering to the ‘pro-Israel lobby’ after it reported her comments about not supporting antisemitism. 

Trioli’s post comes just hours after Tame accused the ABC of pandering to the ‘pro-Israel lobby’ after it reported her comments about not supporting antisemitism

‘We can always rely on our ABC for more lopsided reporting that preferences the pro-Israel lobby’s position ahead of everyone else’s,’ she fumed.

Tame accused the ABC of peddling ‘right-wing propaganda’ as she defended the ‘globalise the intifada’ chant.

‘Intifadas’ refer to two violent uprisings in the Middle East which involved the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians – although Tame has always indicated she only supports peaceful action.

‘Both intifadas began as peaceful protests, boycotts and labour strikes in response to Israel’s ongoing violent oppression,’ Tame wrote on Instagram.

‘Omitting this context erases history and Palestinians themselves. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but they sure do make right-wing propaganda.’

Tame faced calls to be stripped of her 2021 Australian of the Year honour in the wake of her speech at the Herzog demonstration.

More than 25,000 Australians signed a petition calling for authorities to charge Tame with ‘[alleged] criminal incitement to violence under existing Australian law’.

‘We do not need new ‘hate speech’ laws, if the threshold for incitement has been crossed, current laws are sufficient,’ the petition stated.

‘In 2021, Grace Tame was named Australian of the Year, an honour reserved for individuals who reflect the values, unity and integrity of our nation.

‘That title carries moral weight. It is not just recognition for past advocacy, it represents an ongoing association with Australian ideals.’