Australia: Peta Credlin apologises for inaccurately blaming South Sudanese for coronavirus outbreak

Sky News Australia have issued an apology and retracted an editorial by presenter Peta Credlin, after the former government advisor blamed Melbourne’s COVID-19 outbreak on the city’s South Sudanese migrant community.

Ms Credlin made the remarks last Friday during her nightly television show, claiming efforts to reach the community in language had failed because many South Sudanese Migrants cannot read Dinka. 

“This just underscores why new migrants need to urgently learn English...so that they can quickly become part of mainstream Australian society,” she said. 

The presenter also criticised attempts to communicate and publish health messages in-language to migrant communities. 

“When are we going to wake up to the fact that encouraging people to live here as South Sudanese speaking Dinka, rather than as Australians speaking English, is not good for our society?” she argued.

“It’s not good for cohesion and not even good for our recently arrived migrants.”

The editorial received swift online backlash, with members of Australia's South Sudanese community speaking out. 

"If it was not necessary to identify the race or ethnicity of those involved in the Aspen ski trip or the Diamond Princess Cruise, then it was not necessary to identify race or ethnicity in this case," Lawyer Nyadol Nyuon tweeted.

"Credlin may argue this is not about race but about illiteracy in English."

"Was the group demonstrating against Covid19 lockdown, which was predominantly white, illiterate in English?"

The Society of South Sudanese Professionals refuted comments from Ms Credlin linking the community to unconfirmed reports of an Eid dinner causing a coronavirus cluster, pointing out an estimated 90 per cent of South Sudanese Victorians are actually Christians.

“SSSPA considers this report a serious assault on South Sudanese Victorians,” the organisation said in a statement. 

“Women and girls are not banned from attending schools in South Sudan.”

“The war and other factors meant many children were unable to go to school, but this was not ideological and not something the migrant community has continued in Australia.”

The SSSPA said the community is abiding by COVID-19 restrictions, with extremely low numbers of infection.

“Communication within the community is also strong and people are as aware of the social distancing restrictions as everyone else in Australia."

The Victorian government and SBS Dinka have also provided in language resources with up to date information on the pandemic. 

In a statement, Sky News Australia said Ms Credlin and the broadcaster “accept these comments were inaccurate and sincerely apologised for any offence caused by the remarks which have been removed from all platforms.”

Ms Credlin is scheduled to meet with the SSPA later today, and she will issue an on-air apology on her show later tonight. 

Her comments followed an editorial from commentator Andrew Bolt published in the Herald Sun last Thursday, blaming a “fragmented and multicultural Victoria” for the recent spike in infections.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.

Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.