Australia's taxpayer funded public broadcaster ABC is facing ridicule after announcing it would host a debate asking if chess is racist because the white team traditionally gets to go first under the rules of the game.

A former member of the Australian Chess Federation discovered that the debate was set to take place when he was asked by a radio producer to take part.

"The ABC have taken the view that chess is RACIST given that white always goes first!" tweeted John Adams, adding, "Trust the taxpayer funded national broadcaster to apply ideological Marxist frameworks to anything and everything in Australia!"

Furious Australians took to Twitter to express outrage that ABC was wasting money and time on such an irrelevant question.

"People want the national broadcaster to focus on bigger issues," said one. "People are struggling with the economy, with their health, with the lockdown. They don't want their money wasted on bullshit."

However, Australian chess expert Kevin Bonham said he would be taking part in the debate, which is set to happen today.