ABC maintains use of ‘asylum seeker’ over Government’s preferred ‘illegals’ terminology
The ABC will continue to use it the term ‘asylum seeker’ ahead of the term “illegal arrivals,” and advised its journalists to maintain the broadcaster’s style protocol, following immigration Minister Scott Morrison’s claim that use of the word 'illegal' he was calling ‘a spade a spade’.
Alan Sunderland of the ABC
This week, immigration Minister Scott Morrison defended his use of the term "illegals" in reference to asylum-seekers. The ABC said it would continue to use the term ‘asylum seeker’, and its advice to journalists – contained in its style guide- would remain unchanged.
"Under the people smuggling convention it defines illegal entry as people who come without a valid permit for entry into the country," Morrison said.
"I am not going to make any apologies for not using politically correct language to describe something that I am trying to stop.
"I've never said it was illegal to claim asylum - that's not what the term refers to, it refers to their mode of entry. So I am going to call a spade a spade."
ABC head of policy Alan Sunderland said that, as per the ABC’s style guide notes, that “under international law anyone can apply for asylum”.
He said the ABC guide also bans the term “boatpeople”, “unlawful asylum seeker” and “illegal refugees”.
Mr Sunderland, who has been a journalist since 1979, advised staff at the ABC that the use of the terms “illegals” or ”illegal asylum seekers” had the potential to be misleading and confusing.