Grace Tame was paid $9200 for podcast, ABC confirms her contract is over

The ABC spent almost $22,000 on Grace Tame’s podcast series about autism and gender diversity, The Australian reports today. 

The figure is reportedly inclusive of Tame's personal fee of $9200 for the four-part series.

This week, Liberal senator Sarah Henderson questioned the ABC about the costs. In its response, the public broadcaster justified the amounts as “consistent with the standard contractor day rates for a host.”

It also confirmed that Tame would not be used again in that capacity; “Ms Tame has concluded her engagement with the ABC."

 

 

 

 

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Grace Tame's new job at the ABC slammed

The news of Tame's ABC contract ending will come as some relief to those who were outspoken about it earlier this year.

In June, Mediaweek reported that the ABC's announcement of a new podcast, hosted by former Australian of the Year Tame, attracted criticism from a number of community sectors.

The ABC said that Tame, a highly divisive public figure, will host a four-part podcast, Autistic AF with Grace Tame, and discuss aspects of women's experience with autism in Australia.

But the decision to employ Tame in any capacity was slammed on online, and even described as "problematic" by one of ABC's own staff.

ABC presenter Charlie Pickering told Rebel News Australia:

“I do actually think it’s problematic, that’s my personal opinion.

"I think, as a Jewish Australian, there’s a complete misunderstanding of a lot of the words that are said and what (the) true meanings of them are. A lot of people are using words and phrases that have meaning well beyond what they think they do.

“I think you could argue that a lot of people who jump on protest bandwagons are ignorant a lot of the time."

Pickering made the comments when asked about the new podcast, but clarified he was not directly referring to Tame.

Liberal federal MP Sarah Henderson, the opposition spokesperson for communications, last night issued a formal statement on her website entitled, "ABC’s hiring of activist Grace Tame is untenable."

The senator said the "shock" employment of Tame was inconsistent with "the ABC’s editorial standards and statutory obligation to dissem­inate news and information ­impartially and accurately”.

She added, “At a time when antisemitism is at record levels in Australia, the national broadcaster should be exercising the highest standards of judgment, not rewarding individuals who have undermined social cohesion and spread false information about one of the worst terrorist atrocities in modern history."

Asking for the ABC's managing director Hugh Marks to explain, Henderson further said, “Australians are entitled to know whether the ABC conducted any assessment of Ms Tame’s public statements and activism before offering her this role, and whether it considered the impact this appointment would have on public confidence and trust in the broadcaster.”

Jewish leaders slam job given to Grace Tame as “tone deaf”

Jewish leaders were also outraged about the ABC's engagement of Tame, saying it shows a “profound lack of judgment”.

Australian Jewish Association chief Robert Gregory said: “I simply could not believe Australia’s public broadcaster could be so tone deaf.

“This decision demonstrates a profound lack of judgment and disregard for the concerns of many Australians, particularly within the Jewish community. It reinforces the growing perception that ABC management is increasingly out of touch with the communities it is supposed to serve.”

Grace Tame. Image: Instagram

Grace Tame says cancelled engagements are due to ‘smear campaign’

The ABC podcast host appointment came as a surprise to many especially in the context of how 2026 has played out for the activist.

In March this year, Tame admitted that her speaking appointments have almost vanished in the wake of her shouting “globalise the intifada” at a pro-Palestine rally the previous month.

Tame revealed during a speech in early March at the No to Violence conference in Hobart that she had no more speaking engagements for the entire year.

“This is my last presentation of the year and it’s only March,” the 2021 Australian of the Year said.

She began her speech by saying she does not support violence or antisemitism, adding that she does not support Islamophobia or hatred of any kind – despite what she feels has been presented by the media recently.

Tame said she was “up against a well-oiled political machine.”

In a post on Instagram about it, Tame said she had “lost three speaking engagements on the theme of child safety due to an ongoing media smear campaign”.

Tame was condemned by members of the Jewish community due to her appearance at a rally protesting Israel President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia in February, where she led chants to “Globalise the Intifada.”

After her attendance at the rally, Tame faced calls to be stripped of her Australian of the Year award, with more than 25,000 Australians signing a petition demanding action.