UpdateJuly 2018 Vol 26, No. 2 Thrice Yearly Newsletter Where will we be without our ABC?

Ranald Macdonald ABC Friends National Media Adviser

The threat to public broadcasting in this country becomes more real by the day. Those who say “she’ll be right” about the ABC’s continued existence as an independent public broadcaster have their heads truly in a world of denial. On top of the Government’s huge cuts to funding, with 1,000 less employed today than four years ago, and continual harassment and criticism, the Federal Liberal Council meeting in Sydney (June Cartoon © David Pope/Fairfax Media. Reproduced with permission. 16) has, on a 2 to 1 vote, advocated the selling of the ABC. of widespread editorial approval must be Murdoch and his loyal minions of what is from Cabinet. being presented as “news.” What a happy world it must be for commercial media rivals, with the Yet, perhaps the public might have the There is also the importance of ensuring a Government ensuring that the ABC final say with its concern about fake news, diversity of news sources available in our is less able to perform to the highest the potential loss of the range of programs (currently) robust democracy. standards - and how great the expectation the ABC is offering, and the domination of continued on page 3.

ABC Friends John Clarke Hands Off the ABC: Friends’ Mayo poll 14 Calendar 2018 3 Submission to Government Liberal Party votes to sell Inquiry 9 Public trust and the ABC, a ABC 15 landmine for Turnbull 4 Opposition vows to restore You’ve got to play to the ABC funding 10 Inside Message from National base 16 President 5 ABC cuts - the gloves are off! 11 Blood in the Water 17 Update Latest Rant from the IPA 6 Parliamentary Round-up 12 Somerville 18 Super Saturday 7 Now is the time 13 State News 19 The ABC remains trusted 8 The Cutting Wedge 14 NSW Branch News 20 Update From the Editor Publication Information (and National Vice-President) Update is published three times a year by ABC Friends National Inc. GPO Box 4065 Melbourne Vic 3001 Pacific in 2014 (a Government decision) Print Post approved: PP245059/00002. Rallies in July and the Radio Australia ABC shortwave Extracts from newspapers and other This edition of Update has been brought service to Asia and the Pacific in 2017 publications appearing in Update do forward by at least a month so the (an ABC Management decision resulting not necessarily reflect the views of the from funding cuts). The government has members of ABC Friends. Friends may receive information about forthcoming rallies in capital cities in announced a review of Australia’s role Update is distributed to all members of ABC Friends as part of the membership protest at the recent cut of $83m to the in providing media services in our own fee. Update is also supplied to ABC budget in addition to the $254m part of the world, as a result of China’s journalists, politicians and libraries already lost, which translates into 1,000 greatly increased presence and activity in across Australia. jobs. Rallies will be held in Sydney on the Pacific. Even the BBC has increased Update is edited and produced in 8th July, Brisbane on 13th July and its service in the Asia/Pacific, no doubt Sydney and contributions are welcome Melbourne on 15th July, with full details to fill the vacuum created by the ABC’s from state and regional branches. Email your contribution (in Microsoft Word) to in the flyers in this Update. Members in departure. At the time of these cuts [email protected] or other states will be advised of activities in Friends reminded the government of the post to address below their state as plans are developed. value of the “soft diplomacy” which these Material may be quoted or reproduced services provided – perhaps it is not too from Update provided the source is Liberal Federal Council Votes late for the ABC to resume its previous acknowledged and reproduction is sent to the Editor at the above email or postal to sell off ABC role and service in our own region. It address. should be noted that the governments Meeting in Sydney on 16th June, 100 of all of our Pacific neighbours protested delegates at the Federal Council voted Would you like to receive strongly to the Australian government at 2 to 1 that the ABC should be sold Update newsletter the withdrawal of ABC broadcasts. electronically? (which does not make it Government policy, but is a clear sign of power of Save the planet’s trees and ABC Friends’ Government Inquiry into the conservative element within the printing and postage costs and read Competitive Neutrality Update on your tablet or computer. When party.) National Friends President, Update is published, you will receive an Margaret Reynolds has suggested that This inquiry was implemented in response email with a link to the latest issue (each concerned Friends could phone senior to Pauline Hanson’s complaints resulting newsletter is a 2-3MB PDF). Liberal senators and the more marginal from the ABC’s exposure of the internal You can try this now by going to turmoil and tension within One Nation, www.fabcnsw.org.au and clicking on of Liberal members of the House of “Newsletter”. If you prefer this delivery Representatives to remind them that and commercial media (especially that option for future Updates please contact there will be a strong reaction from voters owned by Rupert Murdoch) protesting your local state branch (see back page). should this decision become policy. that a government-funded ABC was unfair competition to their commercial Who to write… Marginal seats in each state are: WA – enterprises. NSW Friends President Ed Anyone seeking basic information about Swan, Pearce, Hasluck; SA – Hindmarsh; Davis has prepared a response on behalf writing to persons of influence might find Queensland – Capricornia, Forde, Flynn, of ABC Friends – you can read Ed’s it helpful to go to www.fabcnsw.org.au Petrie, Dickson, Dawson; NSW – Page; where there are some menu items submission in this Update. Victoria – Latrobe, Boothby, Chisolm. In under “Be Active” leading to pages of the case of Tasmania, calls should be information: Who can I write to? What Funding Cuts are Endangering can I say? made to senators Abetz, Duniam and Colbeck. The forthcoming by-elections ABC’s Traditional Role Update Editor - Mal Hewitt on 28th July (seats and candidates Two recent scares have highlighted the PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 listed in this Update) will be a further very real risk to ABC services because of [email protected] opportunity to remind sitting members lack of funds. Broadcasting the cricket Assistant Editor - Chris. Cartledge and candidates that 80% of Australians on radio has been a vital role for the ABC [email protected] value and trust the ABC. virtually since its establishment, so the Cartoonist - Phil Somerville announcement that the ABC may not Government Review of be able to afford to continue live radio Phil currently runs an online topical Broadcast Services to Asia cartoon by paid subscription called Line coverage of the cricket caused outrage in of Thought. Enquire at phil.somerville@ and the Pacific. sporting circles. Calm was restored with somervillecartoons.com the announcement that Cricket Australia ABC Friends protested strongly against HAD renewed its contract with the ABC. Layout Artist - Paul Martens the cessation of the Australia Network [email protected] ABC Television service to Asia and the The other was the resurfacing of the

Page 2 rumour that Classic FM was to be closed There is no doubt that, as we approach continued from page 1. down. Accepted by classical musicians by-elections in a number of seats and a It is interesting that after 125 pages in both here and overseas as probably Federal election, the ABC and its future their IPA sponsored book Against Public the best classical music station in the will feature strongly in the campaign. You Broadcasting (just released) promoting world, as well as our showcase to the will see the involvement of ABC Friends the selling off of the ABC, the authors world through broadcasts and recordings in that campaign at an unprecedented come to their conclusion that “the single of our outstanding instrumentalists, level. If you care about the health of our largest impediment to privatising the ABC singers and ensembles, closing down democracy, you will want to join in the fight is public opinion”. to defend our publicly funded broadcaster, Classic FM would be an act of cultural Brilliant. vandalism of huge proportions. Its role free of political and commercial influence, But, what about the loss of an in enabling all Australians, wherever they not afraid to speak the truth and shine the independent and courageous may be, to appreciate and enjoy all our light into the dark places of our nation. broadcaster? One that provides musical events, festivals and performers Please consider contacting your local alternative radio and television programs member to remind them that you value an is as much a part of the cultural fabric of for all Australians, in the public interest – independent and properly funded ABC, Australia as being able to listen to a cricket not just those that make a profit. test against England on the ABC. Toby and contributing to the Friends election The decision to support selling off the Chadd, Director of Programming at Classic fighting fund (see how in this Update) ABC, sadly promoted by the Young FM, has reassured listeners that there are Mal Hewitt Liberals (not small ‘l’), is of real concern. no plans to close down the station. National Vice-President, ABC Friends The last report by the EU Commissioner for Human Rights tells us “that countries that have popular, well-funded public service broadcasters encounter less right wing extremism and corruption and have ABC Friends John Clarke more press freedom...... However, independence is the key” Calendar 2018 Communications Minister Senator Fifield rightly says that the Government is not bound by decisions of the peak Federal body of Liberal Party delegates, and others will obviously distance themselves from the vote But, and, But again. The vote was 66% of over 100 delegates from all round Australia, and it continues the trend of the IPA and other right wing critics of trying to bully the ABC into submission, with the unanimous support of News Limited journalists and right-wing commentators. As well, Senator Mitch keeps saying that all the inquiries and proposed legislation are just “good housekeeping”, and that the ABC funding will be “adequate”. Some signs for ABC Friends defending Lorin Clarke, Helen McDonald, Dan Cull (TFN), Peter Monie, Leanne Down the ABC, while strongly encouraging (TFN). Absent, but there in spirit - Lucia Clarke. it to do better, are promising in that very recent surveys conducted by the Australia Institute indicate the public t was with great pleasure that ABCF, involved in this project. So many wants an ABC which can do its job and together with members of John people have told us how much fulfil its charter, i.e. more funding and less IClarke’s family, presented a cheque they are enjoying the Calendar and political interference for $12,375.00 to Trust for Nature remembering John Clarke. It has been The Friends will be holding rallies all (Victoria), based on the sale of 4,950 a very moving project for us all. We round Australia in July to indicate to the calendars. We agreed with the Clarke are really grateful to John’s wife Helen Government and to the ABC’s critics that family that for each copy sold, ABC and daughter Lorin for their warm they are playing with fire, with potentially Friends would donate $2.50 to Trust participation in making this happen. dire consequences. All political parties, for Nature (Victoria). Peter Monie, President, and individual members of those parties We are very glad to have been ABC Friends Victoria must be reminded that all who support the ABC have a vote, and will use it in the coming election. Page 3 Public trust and the ABC, a landmine for Turnbull.

a former Liberal staffer, a voice on RN as the best time for the program in the bush. Peter Manning useless. He implied Henderson was not “Sunday midday” he said, “the only time from Pearls and Irritations his cup of tea and asked if I could find farmers get to stop and have time over (John Menadue) someone else. Alexander Downer was Sunday lunch”. I took his advice and it’s next. He laughed as I came in and said all still there a quarter of a century later out of journalists working in public broadcasting Brisbane. He took me to meet some MP It’s a long-time ago now but in the early around the world shared the same left-wing mates of his and I headed home. 1990s, just after I’d finished my stint as bent, but what did I want to discuss. Well, The message I took home from Tim head of ABC TV News and Current Affairs I said, if he had any program ideas they was: we don’t need another special rural (and having a blue with first Bob Hawke would be treated seriously and considered. program, we just need RN to stay in place and then David Hill over ABC TV coverage What a trick, he roared, “you’re all the and keep up its role as the brain food of the first Iraq war), I took over as General same, there’s nothing more to say” and of the nation. But the Liberals were in a Manager of the ABC’s Radio National. offered me the door. bubble of fear. Now there was a “hospital pass”, as they A few more Liberals later, and with no I thought of those visits the other day say in Rugby League, if ever there was empathetic success, I headed toward the when I heard the current National’s Leader, one. RN’s reputation, even inside the ABC, Nationals. First up, Leader Tim Fischer. Michael McCormack, aping Tony Abbott was only beaten by Triple JJJ in the enfant He’d heard of me from Four Corners, he with his Right-wing clichés. Old Jack terrible stakes. Famously antagonistic to said, and liked my work! What was I up McEwen, Doug Anthony, Tim Fischer middle management (meaning people like to? I mentioned Radio National. He lit up. would never have been so blinded by me), full of long-time public heroes like RN was one of the ABC’s gems, he said. ideology. They would have taken different Robin Williams, Norman Swan, Caroline Cockies listened to it religiously. In fact, it stances on the ABC because what the Jones, Robyn Ravlich, Paul Collins, Mark bush gets from the public broadcaster is Aarons and Ros Cheney, steeped in “universalist” under its Charter. It costs specialist knowledge and presenting their disproportionate money but it’s worth it own programs, they were an awesome lot in the public interest. Like much else the to manage. Luckily, I was friends of most ABC does: Emergency programming, before I got there from TV-land. foreign correspondents, Australian drama “RN”, as we called it, was also the subject Egged on by and comedy, young music, free successful of vicious attacks from the ideological the bully boys website, etc. Right who were not fond of the critiques An RN “Money” program by Richard Aedy that emanated from the programs. They of the Right in reported on 24 May that in 2004 the BBC mistook new ideas for some kind of Left his government, did its own survey of 2,250 Britons to conspiracy. Even way back then, they measure how they put a value on their saw public broadcasting as essentially Turnbull has public broadcaster. One criterion was “a the enemy and a waste of money. The willingness to pay”. Their conclusion: more investigative programme of RN, the interfered more than 81 percent said they were willing to excellent Background Briefing, came in with the ABC than pay about double the then (2004) licence for particular attention. Not having the big fee of 121 pounds per annum (A$214). In audience of its TV cousin, Four Corners, any Prime Minister other words they valued the BBC extremely but producing equally uncomfortable truths I can recall. highly. The huge BBC costs about six times on a weekly basis, BB attracted smears the ABC to the public budget. and sledges aplenty. Before the neo-liberals of one faction of So it seemed to me as a new General the federal Liberals rush off to privatize Manager in the ABC hierarchy that a good the ABC, they should ask exactly what do and bold approach might be to talk to Australians value in “their ABC”. Answer: some of the critics face-to-face in Canberra was his favourite ABC product. It brought they value the trust they can put in it. As – namely the Liberal and National MPs good intellectual stuff to the rural sector no Professor Stuart Cunningham of QUT said making the most noise about RN. It proved matter where you went across Australia. on the same program, surveys show that to be a depressing trip. John Howard as He asked if I remembered running into the ABC is a “trusted brand” for 80 per Opposition Leader ushered me in and him in Canberra one time and we both cent of Australians, “way above any other proceeded to characterise the whole of discussed setting up the rural program brand”. As a former EP of Four Corners I the ABC as left-leaning and dismissed “Landline” when I was in TV? I did. In fact, know Australians trust our journalists to get the notion of giving Gerard Henderson, I remembered asking him what would be to the truth with fairness and balance. They

Page 4 trust the program. The Australia Institute, Michele Guthrie. It is yet another example levels in the ABC, and when that a day after the recent big Budget cut to of a woman being given the top job while doesn’t work to cut its budget and ability the ABC, found 58 per cent of Australians the means to make it work are shot to to do its job. But it’s another to believe disagreed with a cut, 60 per cent agreed pieces beneath her. The digital changes Australians are fooled by this behaviour. with a boost to its long-term funding and she has tried to introduce have instead They will see this for what it is: a sustained 70 per cent agreed “a strong, independent seen a mass of job cuts. The “more with attack on a sacred icon of Australian ABC is critical to a healthy democracy”. less” management philosophy can only go culture and democracy for political gain. Turnbull messes with the ABC at his peril. so far and now Guthrie is being hung out In an era of “fake news”, Facebook Egged on by the bully boys of the to dry. spying, failing traditional commercial media Right in his government, Turnbull has In fact, the budget cut was like a cluster and an explosion of digital sites claiming interfered more with the ABC than any bomb. It exploded across the budget authenticity, the ABC (and SBS) is the best Prime Minister I can recall. All politicians, paper with a series of hits: the $84 million port in this storm of information overload. Labor and Liberal, try it on but usually a cut (twice the size of Tony Abbott’s in Australians trust the ABC. They do not strong management protects the ABC’s 2014-15), the withdrawal of a previous trust their politicians. When the election independence. Turnbull has not only targeted grant “to support news-gathering” campaign gets truly underway the “who stacked the Board, he and his Minister for of $43 million, an indexation freeze for three can you trust?” question will be answered Communications have harassed the senior years and yet another “efficiency review”. ABC – 1, Government – 0. managers, the program makers and single All this on top of the $254 million in cuts Dr Peter Manning was Executive journalists (the latest is Emma Alberici) and implemented by Liberal governments since Producer of Four Corners in the 1980s, tried to take control of the News budget 2014. head of ABC TV News and Current and how it is spent. For a “liberal”, Turnbull This may be payback for ABC news stories Affairs, GM of Radio National and head has a mighty thin skin to criticism. that Turnbull and his Communications of Current Affairs at Seven Network in The funding cut of $84 million dollars out Minister, Mitch Fifield, didn’t like, as many the 1990s. He has been a journalism of the ABC budget is also an insult to his have speculated. But it’s one thing to try academic since then in Sydney and own preference for Managing Director, Ms direct interference in the management Melbourne.

“fight for the ABC “and has since Message from announced a reversal of the freeze on ABC funding In the Super Saturday by elections National President ABCF is lobbying candidates to declare their commitment to the ABC. ustralian Public Broadcasting will Whenever the Federal Election is held Abe an Election issue whenever voters will be asked to choose the the Federal Election is called! candidate who will defend the ABC. There is no doubt that the Australians place a high value on Coalition Government’s constant their public broadcaster and we are harassment of the ABC is alarming determined to show our political many Australians who reject leadership that we will not allow the undermining of the public any downsizing of this icon of our broadcaster’s independence and democracy!!! ongoing budget cuts. Margaret Reynolds There has never has been such a concerted attack on the ABC! The Institute of Public Affairs wants parliamentary enquiries that it is hard to private, not public, broadcasting, keep up with these efforts to pressure and commercial rivals run constant the ABC into some kind of imposed criticism of the ABC. straight jacket that government can Senior government members control. question programming and staffing But ABCF has rallied to launch a decisions that should be off limits for major Defenders Campaign and many an independent agency Australians are joining the fight and The Minister himself refers to the proudly wearing our Defenders Badge ABC as a government entity Opposition Leader Bill Shorten in his There are so many government and Budget Reply Speech committed to

Page 5 The European Commissioner for Human Rights said in a paper published last year: Well-funded and strong public service media are a good indicator that a Latest democracy is healthy – this is the result of a study published last year by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Rant The report notably found that countries that have popular, well-funded public service broadcasters encounter less right-wing extremism and corruption from and have more press freedom. 2 Public broadcasting provides enormous value. It differs the IPA from state broadcasting, where the broadcaster operates at the direction of the government. It Professor Ed Davis AM differs from commercial President of NSW Friends broadcasting, which must pay attention to the interests The Case of those who purchase its services. A further distinguishing hris Berg and Sinclair Davidson for Public are Research Fellows with the feature is that many commercial Broadcasting CInstitute of Public Affairs (IPA) and media vigorously pursue their own vested their book, Against Public Broadcasting: Berg and Davidson interests. News Corp comes to mind. It why we should privatise the ABC and how fail to address could never be accused of being faint- to do it, was launched in May. The IPA is the extraordinary hearted in pursuit of its goals. a conservative think-tank, founded by big importance of public Commercial media certainly are not business in the early 1940s, to counter broadcasting and its constrained by the noble aims set the rise of perceived dangerous left-wing rich contribution to the out in the ABC’s Charter: sentiments. Over the decades it has quality of life of Australian to provide within Australia championed the free market. It insistently citizens. The case for public innovative and comprehensive advocates the privatisation of state-owned broadcasting has been services of a high standard… enterprises and wage deregulation. More well made in Europe. The broadcasting programs that contribute recently it has trumpeted climate change United Nations Economic, to a sense of national identity and inform skepticism. Its supporters include Gina Cultural and Scientific and entertain, and reflect the cultural Rinehart, Rupert Murdoch, Tony Abbott, Organisation (UNESCO) diversity of the Australian community. George Pell and Mitch Fifield. observed: Commercial media are not enjoined to, The haters of the ABC will love this book. (P)ublic broadcasting’s only raison “encourage and promote the musical, They will linger over its assertions that the d’être is public service. It is the dramatic and other performing arts in market would do a much better job; that public’s broadcasting organization; it Australia”.3 the $1 billion annual funding is tax payers’ speaks to everyone as a citizen. Public hard earned income down the drain; and broadcasters encourage access to Commercial media are not subjected to that the ABC is filled with lefty journalists and participation in public life. They the extraordinary scrutiny that is the lot plotting the overthrow of the Australian develop knowledge, broaden horizons of the ABC: the presentation of Annual way. The book is a sour and bitter brew. It and enable people to better understand Reports to the federal parliament; the is laced with inconsistencies and ill-intent. themselves by better understanding the marathon of Senate Estimates and seemingly endless reviews. Berg and Does it matter if this effort fails to land a world and others. Davidson’s claim that the ABC has blow? The IPA already has one of their Public broadcasting is defined as a somehow escaped serious scrutiny (p.7) is own, Senator Mitch Fifield, in the very meeting place where all citizens are laughable. handy role of Minister for Communications welcome and considered equals. It and it would be hard to miss his regular is an information and education tool, ABC and Funding attacks on the ABC. In this, he stands in accessible to all and meant for all, a class of his own. He is the recognised whatever their social or economic The authors rail against the $1 billion Chief Prosecutor against the ABC. No status. Its mandate is not restricted to annual funding for the ABC. Is this really other Communications minister has ever information and cultural development- an excessive amount? Perspective helps. so consistently and relentlessly attacked public broadcasting must also appeal The ABC’s funding has declined by 28% in the ABC. He should desist. He is not to the imagination, and entertain. But real terms since the mid-1980s. The latest winning over the 80% of Australians who it does so with a concern for quality round of cuts announced in the Morrison engage with the ABC, trust and place a that distinguishes it from commercial budget provide for a further $84 million to high value on it. broadcasting.1 be cut on top of the $254 million cut by

Page 6 then Prime Minister Tony Abbott in 2014. conducted more than 200 investigations ABC Friends well remember his infamous into the ABC since 2012 and has found pre-election promise, ‘There will be no cuts There are so only two matters which it has considered to the ABC or SBS’. breaches of impartiality. In addition, since 2008 the ABC Board has commissioned Comparison with European nations shows many better nineteen independent Quality Assurance that the British Broadcasting Corporation things to do Reviews into its impartiality and accuracy. has a budget eight times the size of the None of these reviews have found any ABC, serving a population just three than read the serious breaches. times greater and not spread over the latest rant from great distances found in Australia. When By the end of Berg and Davidson’s broadcasting costs are considered on a the IPA. book, there is a whiff of defeat. They per capita basis, Norway, Germany and acknowledge that ‘the single largest France are much more generous in their impediment to privatising the ABC is public funding for public broadcasting. A recent restoration of its funding to 2013 levels to opinion’ (p.126). They recognise that the estimate placed Australia twelfth out of allow it to operate according to its Charter. ABC is very highly valued and that people eighteen Western nations in per head The book asserts that the ABC is a den see it as balanced and even-handed. expenditure on public broadcasting. No of left-wing journalists and that this spills The authors’ fear is that conservative gold medal for Australia in this race; no over into a bias against conservative governments will lack the courage to act place on or near the podium. 4 parties and interests. To their credit, Berg so obviously contrary to the public interest. What has happened to ABC funding as and Davidson acknowledge that ‘direct Against Public Broadcasting costs $30. It a proportion of government revenue? In and uncontested evidence for bias in the is not value for money. Even if given away, the late 1970s, funding for the ABC was ABC is hard to come by’ (p.103) and they it would be a poor use of your time. There 0.6% of government revenue. In 2018 this quote Chris Uhlmann, former ABC political are so many better things to do than read has fallen to approximately 0.25%. ABC editor, who commented that whatever the the latest rant from the IPA. Managing Director in the 1980s, David colour of ABC journalists’ personal political (1) UNESCO, 2001, Public Broadcasting: Why? How? , UNESCO. Hill, said that the ABC cost Australians 8 leanings, their sense of professionalism meant that their reports were objective and (2) Human Rights Comment, 2017, Public Service Broadcasting cents a day; in real terms, this has fallen under threat in Europe, Strasbourg, 2 May. fair. to 4 cents a day. It is plainly ridiculous to (3) ABC Charter, s.6, Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act argue that the ABC is a significant burden The Australian Communications and Media (1983). on the Australian taxpayer. Rather than Authority (ACMA) examines complaints (4) David Tiley, (2018) ABC downhill for thirty years, Screen Hub, February 16th 2018. See also, (2018) The ABC of Budget less funding, the ABC requires at the least about television and radio content. It has Cuts, on The Money, ABC Radio National, 24 May.

Braddon (Tas) Justine Keay (ALP) NSW Brett Whiteley (Lib) Friends

Super Longman, (Qld) Annual Dinner Susan Lamb (ALP) Trevor Ruthenberg (LNP) Saturday Matthew Stephen (One Nation) Guest Speaker Fremantle (WA) Paul Barry Josh Wilson (ALP) Host of Media Watch

The following Federal Perth (WA) by-elections will take Patrick Gorman (ALP) place on Saturday 28th July 2018. Mayo (SA) Concerned Friends in those Rebekha Sharkie (Centre Alliance) Friday 21 Sept, 6pm states should ensure that all Reg Coutts (ALP) Cello’s Restaurant, candidates below are aware that 169 Castlereagh St. the future of the ABC is a major Georgina Downer (Lib, research Sydney concern for voters fellow at the anti-ABC Institute of Public Affairs) Booking details to follow.

Page 7 The ABC remains trusted in a time of declining confidence in other institutions

Firstly, the ABC’s existence is not and This reality was again recognised in 2013 never was based on a premise of market when Parliament updated the ABC Act Justin Milne failure. Our Charter, enacted by legislation, to mandate our participation in the online ABC Chairman has always required much more of us. world. In doing so, it simply recognised the By fulfilling that Charter, we provide changing viewing and listening preferences Australians with distinctive content, media of Australians. That change will accelerate. he ABC is an organisation known diversity, a strong creative sector and In twenty years, television and radio as intimately to every Australian and more. Even better, the ABC costs each we currently know it will cease to exist as about which every one of us has Australian half what it cost thirty years ago. Australians complete their migration from Tan opinion. The letters pages of broadcast to digital services and stream newspapers contain a steady stream of content on demand to the device of their bouquets and brickbats for the public choice. broadcaster. Yet according to pollsters, None of the ABC’s past innovations are with around 80% support, the ABC is the responsible for the fortunes of commercial most trusted media organisation in the media. To blame public broadcasting for country by a very wide margin. It is one the challenges they face today is just as of the few organisations to maintain trust The question wrong-headed as crediting us for the when confidence in institutions everywhere ‘rivers of gold’ the commercial media has declined. is whether enjoyed for decades. If there is any This trust has been hard-earned over the the people relationship between public and private ABC’s 86-year history. But as some in the broadcasting it is a positive one, because banking community have learnt recently, of Australia our investments make the entire sector that trust can be eroded very quickly. more vibrant and viable for everyone. Some people delight in undermining trust would be The coming decades will be no different. in public broadcasting because they’d As media companies consolidate and rather darkness where we shine light, or better served. businesses use their global scale to because their commercial interests are dominate, the existence of an independent served when Australians have less media ABC will protect diversity and Australian diversity and choice. culture – as it always has. The ABC The commercial television networks and will help define Australian culture in a some newspapers peddle an ever more fragmenting world. We will provide a urgent message that the ABC is hurting Secondly, the declining audiences reported trusted voice in a world of contested their business and should be held back. by commercial media are not and never facts and views. And we will promote They take delight in reviews into the have been the fault of the ABC. What has debate and accountability through fine broadcaster’s efficiency and business changed for all media is the arrival of the investigative journalism. practices, hoping they will coalesce into FAANGs – or Facebook, Amazon, Apple, a full-blown revision of the ABC’s Charter Australians should not be fooled by the Netflix and Google – with their mega- that relegates the public broadcaster current battle being waged against public billion-dollar production budgets and to a ‘market failure’ function limited to broadcasting. Fringe political interests, global scale-economies that have upended programming about fine arts, science, populists and commercial media all have business models the world over. education or philosophy. This would likely a shared interest in weakening the ABC spell the end for popular programming like The debate today over the ABC’s and confining it to market failure activities. Four Corners, Australian Story, Gruen or digital presence is just as ill-founded Each would benefit in their own way from Sea Change because, the argument goes, as were debates sixty years ago about a poorer, less capable, less nosey and less these programs could be produced by our presence in television, and eighty relevant ABC. The question is whether the commercial media and taxpayers would years ago about our right to produce people of Australia would be better served. save millions. But this argument misses independent journalism for wireless The overwhelming majority of two points. listeners. Australians, like me, would think not.

Page 8 Hands Off the ABC: Friends’ Submission to Government Inquiry

given us great assistance. Several practices of the national broadcasters Professor Ed Davis AM other experts around Australia have and advise the Government on President of NSW Friends also commented on the submission. whether they are operating in a manner We appreciate all their generous consistent with the general principles support. of competitive neutrality. The Inquiry ABC Friends has drafted a compelling In mid-2017 the Turnbull government was will consider how the Australian submission to the Inquiry into the searching for a path to pass its proposed Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and competitive neutrality of the national package of media reforms. The reforms’ Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) broadcasters. We see the Inquiry aim was to scrap the “two-out-of-three” operate within the markets of which they as another and shameful attempt of rule that stops a company owning TV, are part and the basis on which they are the federal government to clip the radio and print outlets in the one market, competing with the private sector’. wings of the ABC. Our submission and also abolish the 75% reach rule for The ABC Friends’ submission is that the demonstrates that the ABC does not commercial television networks. Australia’s ABC does not enjoy a net advantage enjoy a competitive advantage over major commercial media had pressed hard in the media marketplace. The ABC is commercial organisations in Australia’s for these changes. The government faced acting in accordance with its Charter media market. We argue that the the familiar problem of lacking a majority and it is serving the public interest. competitive neutrality policy does not in the Senate. Senator Mitch Fifield, Points made in our submission include: apply to the ABC because its operations Minister for Communications, wooed • Competitive neutrality policy in are in accordance with the obligations Pauline Hanson and her then crew (now Australia requires a weighing of the set out in its Charter in the ABC Act, halved) in the Senate. Pauline Hanson advantages and disadvantages of 1983. The Act, because it is law, over- had made known her shrill displeasure government ownership or control. It rides competitive neutrality policy. The with the ABC following a Four Corners is not absolute and is applied to the policy itself acknowledges that where which had shown a bright light on the extent that it is in the public interest. the public interest is advantaged, then inner workings of her Party (Four Corners, the policy will not apply. Our argument is Please Explain, 3 April, 2017). The price • The statute setting up the ABC as a that the ABC demonstrably operates in for One Nation support was promised cuts public broadcaster evidences a policy the public interest. Further, we contend to ABC funding (announced in the 2018 decision that significant public benefits that the competitive neutrality policy Morrison budget) and a line-up of inquiries accrue to the specific activities does not apply to the ABC as it does to weaken it. These included inquiries into it requires and funds the ABC to not compete ‘as a business’ in the whether the ABC should have its Charter undertake. The list of activities and the media market. It does not charge for its changed to incorporate the requirement to funding itself substantially constrain programs. be ‘fair and balanced’; into the delivery of the activities of the ABC. ABC Friends is greatly indebted its services to rural and regional Australia; • The advantages of the ABC mainly to Professor Deborah Healey and, into the disclosure of top salaries at relate to its government funding, at UNSW’s Law School; she is the ABC. In regard to ‘fair and balanced’, which is discretionary and has Australia’s leading expert on the ABC’s code of practice already spells declined significantly in real terms competitive neutrality. Together with out its statutory duty to ensure that its since the mid-1980s. Dr Rob Nicholls at UNSW Business, gathering and presentation of news and • The disadvantages of the ABC in a Dr Rhonda Smith at the University of information is ‘accurate’ and ‘impartial’. competitive sense are multiple. The Melbourne, and Dr Daniel Joyce at An Issues Paper was released on ABC is constrained by its Charter to UNSW Law, she has guided us in the 26 April, 2018 by the Department of provide specified services which are drafting of our submission. Dr Fiona Communications and Arts. The paper deemed to be in the public interest, Martin at Sydney University has also indicated that the Inquiry will ‘explore the but which may not all appeal to large

Page 9 audiences. It is not allowed to charge activities. Indeed, Minister Mitch Fifield the FAANGs - or Facebook, Amazon, for the great majority of its services. has been quoted as doubting that the Apple, Netflix and Google - with Despite this, it must compete in the ABC competes with commercial media their mega-billion-dollar production market-place for the acquisition of on the grounds that it does not compete budgets and global scale economies programs which it does not produce for advertising (Amanda Meade, ABC that have upended business models in-house. Sport broadcasting is a Changes ‘unnecessary and unjustified’, the world over… None of the ABC’s good example of its lack of bargaining Michelle Guthrie says, Guardian on-line, past innovations are responsible for power. The commercials take their 11 April, 2018). the fortunes of the commercial media. pick; the ABC is out in the cold. To blame public broadcasting for the • There are established complaint challenges they face today is just as • The ABC Charter has required the mechanisms in relation to competitive organisation to offer innovative wrong-headed as crediting us for the neutrality which have been used in relation “rivers of gold” the commercial media services, which expose it to costs and to the ABC, which makes it hard to risks in research and development enjoyed for decades (Sydney Morning understand why this inquiry is necessary. that its commercial competitors may Herald, 31 May, 2018, p. 19). later benefit from, for example in Our submission acknowledges that some In this era of fake news and major offering ABC iView, a pioneering on- commercial media have pressed for this digital disruption, the ABC’s role in demand television service. Inquiry. They appear to believe that the presenting impartial and objective news operation of the ABC has damaged their • It is unclear whether the ABC in most and information has never been more profitability. The Friends dispute this and respects satisfies the definition of important. Well-funded and independent agree with Mr Justin Milne, Chair of the business, given all of the features of public broadcasting is essential to ABC, who wrote recently: its operation, in particular its focus on all Australians and this Inquiry into producing content in areas of public (T)he declining audiences reported by competitive neutrality must not be used benefit such as regional and rural commercial media are not and never as a vehicle to restrict the news, and its very limited capacity to have been the fault of the ABC. What ABC’s operations. generate income from commercial has changed for all media is the arrival of

800 jobs since the Coalition came into Opposition power. leader Bill “Enough is enough,” Mr Shorten said. “That’s why Labor will stand up for the Shorten vows ABC and fight against the conservatives’ ideological war against our public to restore broadcaster.” When defending the cuts, Finance ABC funding if Minister Mathias Cormann noted the ABC would still receive $3.2 billion over elected that three-year period. He also noted other media organisations Henry Belot – ABC News June 11, 2018 had had to find savings in recent years. “Nearly all other government-funded, ederal Labor would end a The Coalition plans to pause the ABC’s taxpayer-funded organisations have funding freeze on the Australian annual funding indexation from July 2019, to find productivity improvements and FBroadcasting Corporation (ABC) which means future funding will not change operation efficiencies,” Senator Cormann if elected, effectively restoring $83.7 in line with inflation. said. million to the public broadcaster over Senior government figures say the change In May, Mr Shorten said the ABC was three years. is necessary to help the broadcaster live one of the, “pet hates of the right “within its means”. wing of the Liberal Party”, suggesting Key points: the funding decision may have been But ABC management have warned it politically motivated. • Coalition will pause ABC’s annual could affect audiences and fails to take into When the indexation freeze was funding indexation from July 2019 account funding cuts of more than $250 announced last month, ABC managing • Decision means ABC will have $83.7 million announced in 2014. director Michelle Guthrie said she was million less than expected Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Labor “disappointed and concerned” the • Shorten says ABC already made would guarantee funding certainty over the Government appeared to be overlooking enough savings and Labor would ABC’s three-year budget cycle if elected, efficiencies delivered over previous reverse changes noting the broadcaster had already lost years.

Page 10 ABC CUTS - THE GLOVES ARE OFF !

Ranald Macdonald ABC Friends National bodies. A growing number of alerts Media Adviser concern political interference in the editorial line of public broadcasters, insufficient safeguards in the legislation against political bias, or the lack of The Coalition’s latest budget aimed appropriate funding to guarantee the at ensuring the voters return it to the independence of the public broadcasters. Many years government benches has dropped Independence is key. ago, the ABC ran any pretence of supporting a vibrant, a famous campaign independent and properly funded ABC. In Australia we have seen a succession of under Managing Director Governments totally ignore the ABC Act David Hill promoting the fact It is now a fight by the ABC and its of 1983, which is meant to enshrine the supporters for its survival as an effective that Australians gained from the independence of Board and Management range of programs on radio (now 46 public broadcaster and for it to be able to from political interference. We have had: fulfil its Charter requirements. stations) and television at the cost of • recent attempts to force publication of eight cents a day. Interestingly, the European Commissioner salaries; for Human Rights has just issued a The cost has reduced to four cents a report, which begins: • the “competitive neutrality inquiry” day and we now have the addition of which commercial media magnates digital and other platforms including the Well-funded and strong public service hope will result in the ABC not being excellent iView service. media are a good indicator that a able to compete in areas digital; democracy is healthy – this is the result Last night’s budget was another bad one of a study published last year by the • regional and rural legislation to force for the ABC. Cuts of $84 million over the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The changes in board membership and three years and other reductions – plus report notably found that countries that direct the ABC on how to spend its the generous not-to-be-refused offer of have popular, well-funded public service dwindling budget; and another ‘efficiency review’. broadcasters encounter less right wing • the idiotic move to enshrine “fair and Rupert Murdoch and others must feel extremism and corruption and have more balanced” (the mantra of Fox News good about the Budget – despite losing press freedom. in the States) on top of “impartial and the supportive leadership of Tony Abbott However, the situation on the ground accurate” i.e. fair reporting which is the and his ‘promise’ of no cuts to the ABC! gives rise to concerns: an analysis of the current commitment of the ABC. And Pauline Hanson continues to cast alerts submitted to the Council of Europe Scarcely a day goes by when IPA a wide shadow on Coalition decision- Platform to promote the protection of member, Communications Minister making. journalism and safety of journalists, since Senator Mitch Fifield, does not represent Ranald Macdonald is a former Managing its launch in 2015, shows an emerging the interests of those who would benefit Director and Editor in Chief of The Age trend of threats to the independence of financially or politically from a weakened newspaper. He is an ABC 3LO morning public broadcasters or of their regulatory or ‘privatised’ ABC. presenter and Friend of the ABC.

Page 11 Parliamentary Round-up Gayle Davies

If the links don’t open from here, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation whether the ABC and SBS are operating copy and paste them into your ceased shortwave broadcasting in the in a manner consistent with these browser. If you don’t have access Asia-Pacific region in January 2017 ahead principles. The Government announced to the Internet, your local library will of a transition to FM transmission.The the appointment of an expert Panel to assist you. review is assessing the reach of Australia’s conduct the Inquiry and released the media in the Asia-Pacific region, including terms of reference on 29 March 2018. Senate : whether shortwave radio technology The Panel’s membership is Mr Robert should be used. All media distribution Kerr (Chair), Ms Sandra Levy AO and Ms Australian content on broadcast, radio platforms – television, radio and online – Julie Flynn. and streaming services: are being examined including commercial, Have your say : https://www. Status: Accepting submissions. On community and publicly funded services. communications.gov.au/have-your-say/ 27 March 2018, the Senate granted an The review is also looking at different types inquiry-competitive-neutrality-national- extension of time to report until 15 August of technologies such as analogue, digital broadcasters 2018 and satellite radio and television services See also Ed Davis’ article on p.9 of this https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_ and online services. Update Business/Committees/Senate/ Have your say: https://www. ACCC (Australian Competition and Environment_and_Communications/ communications.gov.au/have-your-say/ Consumer Commission) AustralianContent review-australian-broadcasting-services- Inquiry into digital platforms National Broadcasters Legislation asia-pacific https://www.accc.gov.au/focus-areas/ Amendment (Enhanced Transparency) Jemima Garrett, formerly ABC’s Asia- Bill 2017 Pacific correspondent, is putting together inquiries/digital-platforms-inquiry Bill to amend the Australian Broadcasting some background notes for individuals Commenced: 3 December 2017 Corporation Act 1983 and the Special and organisations interested in making Preliminary report due: 3 December Broadcasting Services Act 1991 to submissions and am happy to help as 2018 needed. provide more transparency in the national Final report due: 3 June 2019 broadcasters’ allocation of Government Not all submissions need to be As part of the process to pass the funding in the form of salaries and comprehensive. Numbers matter so if media law reforms through the Senate allowances paid to employees, and individuals want to make a submission of in September 2017, the government payments to on-air talent contractors just a few lines that is good too! where the total amounts paid exceed agreed to an inquiry into Google and $200,000 annually. The BBC World Service is currently Facebook and other digital platforms. undergoing its biggest ever expansion. The Government has directed the ACCC Reported June 2018 – recommended If the ABC were to receive an equivalent to conduct this inquiry, which will look at Bill be passed (Labor and Greens boost (per head of population), it would the effect ‘digital search engines, social dissenting) mean well over $50 million extra a year for media platforms and other digital content https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_ international broadcasting. aggregation platforms are having on Business/Committees/Senate/ Email Jemima: [email protected] competition in media and advertising Environment_and_Communications/ services markets’. EnhancedTransparencyBill Inquiry into the competitive neutrality of the national broadcasters (ABC & SBS) An issues paper was released on 26 February 2018 with submissions due Government inquiries : Consultation Period: by 3 April; submissions were published Dept of Communications and the Arts: April 26, 2018 09:00 AEST to June 22, in May. Public external engagement 2018 17:00 AEST Review of Australian Broadcasting will take place throughout May-August, Services in the Asia-Pacific Competitive neutrality principles provide including a forum for journalists in that government businesses activities August. A preliminary report is expected Consultation Period: should not enjoy net competitive by 3 December. The final report to the June 04, 2018 09:00 AEST to August 03, advantages by virtue of their public Treasurer is due six months later, 2018 17:00 AEST sector ownership.The Inquiry will examine on 3 June 2019.

Page 12 NOW IS THE TIME Matthew Peacock even more critical for a vibrant democracy. Journalist, Author, Under Michelle Guthrie resources for Former Staff-Elected investigative journalism have been Director on the ABC Board increased. She has provided unflinching AUNTY support for independent news and current affairs coverage, despite the Government’s f you have ever cared about your HAS SURVIVED efforts to hobble it (even to the extent national broadcaster, now is the time. of striking a deal with Pauline Hanson Never before has it been under such a SOME OF THESE following critical reporting). Isustained attack. PRESSURES The ABC is also currently boosting staff, It faces a hostile Government that has equipment and output in its regions, long inflicted swingeing ongoing cuts, waged BEFORE, BUT starved of resources. an unremitting public campaign of criticism NEVER ALL AT It has pledged to increase production of and intimidation, stacked the Board, lied, quality Australian TV and reversed plans to deceived and abandoned any pretence ONCE AND sell its major Sydney production studio. of support for the values a liberal, pluralist media in Australia’s democracy. WITH SUCH It is endeavouring to boost reporting resources in the Pacific, despite It faces vitriolic and constant attacks from INTENSITY. government cutbacks. Murdoch and his media lickspittles, a tiny coterie of protected propagandists whose It has redoubled its efforts to boost craven behaviour even embarrasses their diversity on-air and elsewhere to truly colleagues. reflect Australia’s diverse Indigenous and Myself, Helen Grasswill and Greg multicultural population. And it faces ongoing digital disruption Wilesmith are convening this group and which is driving massive change in the hope to launch it within weeks. The ABC’s largest-ever self funded training media landscape. program is underway, to better equip staff We have already held had productive to deal with the transforming media. Aunty has survived some of these talks with ABC management, Friends of pressures before, but never all at once and the ABC and others about how we can Management layers have been pared with such intensity. combine forces to strengthen national back and new digital initiatives launched. public media in such a challenging Online media and the behind-the scenes In the midst of this perfect storm is the environment. technology that brings us iview are rapidly ABC’s dedicated staff, now severely improving, with major investments being depleted, many deeply demoralised and all It is difficult to describe the atmosphere made. working harder than ever in the service of inside the ABC at the moment. the public. These are achievements the Murdoch A lot of staff are deeply demoralised, not media won’t mention, but we should. They need our help and support. just from the external attacks, but from the ever-increasing workload, the continuing Above all, we should be proud of the For that reason some former staff are retrenchments and the apparent efforts staff are making to continue to banding together to form an ABC Alumni inadequacies of the Board and Managing provide original, creative, professional group, whose function will be to harness Director. media content despite all the mud thrown the knowledge, experience and skills of at them. They deserve our support. thousands of ex-ABC staff. But the story is mixed, and it is important for the ABC’s supporters to rally around The survival of the ABC in the digital age In the past four years the ABC has lost our strengths, not to aid our enemies by is now at stake. It is a political battle, pure hundreds of experienced staff, mostly feeding the critics. and simple. Do we want national public made redundant. media into the future, or not? If we do, we One the ABC’s most important functions Many of these former staff care deeply need to ask every politician, on any side, is to provide fearless, independent about the principles of public media what is their commitment to it. Labor has journalism, free from commercial or and will fight to protect it; they can also already sensed the issue is one voters political censorship. It is. It continues to. provide practical training and mentoring for care about. It, too, needs to go further in ongoing staff, who now need to combine Four Corners continues its magnificent restoring the funds needed for the ABC the traditional craft skills like editing and run of hard-hitting, pioneering journalism. to do the job the public deserves journalism with the new media. In a time of “fake news” the ABC’s role is and wants.

Page 13 money, it is about removing accountability. The director of news at the ABC, Gaven Morris, has confirmed there will be job losses. There will be fewer journalists breaking fewer stories. “Make no mistake, there is no more fat to cut at the ABC,” he said. “Any more cuts to the ABC cut into the muscle of the organisation.” That suits the government fine. Cuts like this are about damage. They are about revenge. The Coalition’s partner in this is One Nation. It is a grotesque alliance. One Nation has blackmailed the government over ABC funding. Last year it said it would oppose all budget measures unless the ABC’s funding was cut by $600 million a year. The party whip, Brian Burston, conceded this could be interpreted as The cutting wedge “payback”. Pauline Hanson was angry about a Four Corners episode that detailed peculiarities The Saturday Paper – Editorial says: “They don’t realise how completely in her party. The anger intensified when dead they are to me.” details of a trip to Afghanistan were May 12, 2018 revealed by the broadcaster. The party This budget is about finishing that project. accused the ABC of collaborating with hat this government hates is The market has already done its work terrorists for the story. “The ABC are scrutiny. That’s what these cuts on the big newsrooms, on the engines warped and dangerous. Terrible. Horrible. Ware about. of democracy that were News Corp and Sad.” Fairfax Media. It halved the reporting staffs, This is the madness the Coalition now This is the government whose cleared out the experience. communications minister is a card-carrying indulges. The damage being done to member of the Institute of Public Affairs, The ABC remained an irritant. Its funding the ABC is damage that will harm the a body that lobbies for the ABC to be allowed it the expensive work of breaking entire country. The pettiness of this is privatised. It is a government that hates, news. The government’s answer is a cut of extraordinary. It is the action of a failed deeply hates, the public broadcaster. $84 million over three years. democracy. Its first big lie, Tony Abbott’s last promise Since the first Abbott budget, the ABC has There are no votes in cutting the ABC. before he won government, was that there lost $254 million in funding. These cuts are Not directly. This is about the votes you would be no cuts to the ABC. Since then, on top of that. hold onto when the country doesn’t know it has made the persecution of the ABC This is the government that gave Fox what you are doing. It is about conducting a running obsession. The most powerful Sports a $30 million handout. It is the government in darkness. In an ugly and minister in the government, Peter Dutton, government that has $50 million to lionise unimaginative budget, these cuts mocks its reporters as “crazy lefties”. He Captain James Cook. It is not about are some of the ugliest.

Mayo poll shows Key results: • 74% of respondents think funding for the ABC should be increased or stay the same, with only 23% want electorate wants funding decreased • 50% of Liberal voters want funding increased or to stay ABC protected the same, 45% want it reduced The Australia Institute - June 16, 2018 • 87% of Rebekha Sharkie voters want funding for the The Australia Institute commissioned ReachTEL to conduct public broadcaster maintained or increased a survey of 1,031 residents across the federal electorate • V oters across all age groups support maintaining or of Mayo on the evening of 5 June 2018. The poll included increasing funding for the ABC, with older voters the a question about funding for the ABC. The results are most likely to support more funding for the ABC released today.

Page 14 Liberal Party council votes to sell off the ABC David Rowe – The Age – June 16, 2018

he Liberal Party’s peak council has Tvoted almost 2:1 to privatise the ABC after hearing calls from members to save taxpayer funds by selling the public broadcaster in the same way icons like Qantas were sold decades ago. The overwhelming vote on Saturday morning was another display of the anger at the ABC in conservative ranks although He named Qantas as an example of a Mr Collier said the sale would mean other no Liberals offered any detail on how the company that remained an Australian icon media companies would then compete organisation could be sold and how much after being privatised, defying critics who on a “level playing field” against a private it would be worth. warned against the sale in the 1990s. competitor rather than one that was The vote came in a series of debates Mr Collier backed the motion, which funded by taxpayers. where federal council delegates, said: “That federal council calls for the full Nobody rose from the federal council floor representing Liberal branches from across privatisation of the Australian Broadcasting to speak against the motion. the country, also voted for an efficiency Corporation, except for services into review into SBS. In response, Communications Minister regional areas that are not commercially Mitch Fifield reminded the meeting that The council also voted, by a narrow viable.” privatising the ABC was not government margin of 43 to 31 votes, to relocate the “There are several ways we could policy. Australian embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv privatise the ABC – we could sell it to a to Jerusalem, a highly contentious move “We do have a range of measures that media mogul, a media organisation, the opposed by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop we’re seeking to implement to enhance government could sell it on the stock during the debate. There are 110 council the efficiency, the accountability and the market,” Mr Collier told the meeting. delegates with the right to vote at the transparency of the ABC operations,” he council meeting on Sydney on Saturday. He also cited a recommendation from said. Institute of Public Affairs member Chris The Institute of Public Affairs and others on “We have paired that with an efficiency Berg that would see the ABC sold to a the conservative side of Australian politics review to make sure the ABC is the best group of employees who would become have stepped up their calls for the ABC possible steward of taxpayer resources shareholders. sale in recent months, at the same time that it can be.” Communications Minister Mitch Fifield “There is no strong economic case for a Senator Fifield also cited the fact that he has lodged a series of complaints over its public broadcaster in 2018,” Mr Collier had made two appointments to the ABC news coverage. said. board – Minerals Council of Australia chair Council delegate Mitchell Collier, the “Privatising it would save the federal Vanessa Guthrie and Queensland rural federal vice president of the Young budget $1 billion a year, could pay off debt leader Georgina Somerset – as evidence of Liberals, said he had enjoyed ABC and would enhance, not diminish, the action on the way the ABC worked. programs such as Bananas in Pyjamas Australian media landscape.” Senator Fifield told the meeting the during his childhood but he believed there There was no explanation of how the government was amending the ABC’s was no economic case for keeping the ABC would have any commercial value governing act to stipulate that it was “fair broadcaster in public hands. to a buyer if the government imposed and balanced” in its coverage and “High sentimentality is no justification for restrictions on the sale to protect rural would force it to disclose the names preserving the status quo,” Mr Collier told services, forcing any buyer to continue of staff earning more than $200,000 the meeting. operations that might lose money. a year. Page 15 You’ve got to play to the base Why the ABC is a political football

Laura Tingle ABC News June 9, 2018

ill Shorten rose in Federal Parliament on Thursday afternoon Blast week to give a rousing defence of the ABC. An hour later, an email arrived in ABC managing director Michelle Asked why the Guthrie’s office from Communications Communications Minister Minister Mitch Fifield. should launch a complaint against not just political editor Andrew Probyn, and “The Labor Opposition with me as leader me, but Insiders host Barrie Cassidy and will defend the independence of the ABC, implicitly two Insiders panellists who don’t and a Labor government with me as prime The Minister’s even work for the ABC, Phil Coorey and minister will defend the independence of Mark Kenny, the response from people reference to this as the ABC”, Mr Shorten told Parliament. inside the Coalition was equally pragmatic. reporting a “Labor Senator Fifield, by comparison, wanted to “You’ve got to play to the base.” complain. lie” lifts the first veil In other words, for both sides, the ABC The complaint? That several ABC has moved from just being a perennial on the difference journalists had retailed “the Labor lie” that subject of political dissatisfaction, to an the Government may have chosen the between someone election issue in its own right. dates of five looming federal by-elections complaining about for political reasons. The story under the surface Having now a very direct interest in the Like most stories in politics, there is always a breach of editorial political debate about the ABC, I rang the story on the surface and lots more standards, and some people on both sides of politics to layers underneath. ask what had motivated the Shorten and Labor might believe in the editorial someone making a Fifield interventions. independence of the ABC. Mitch partisan attack. A Labor person said: “Well, there is the Fifield may be able to say that it is, budget cut to the ABC, so that is worth technically, the Speaker of the House of talking about. But, people in regional Representatives who chooses the date of Australia, for example north-west a by-election. So I know that attacks on the ABC come, Tasmania, love the ABC, even if they don’t But that does not make underlying motives perennially, from both sides of politics like Labor. So it doesn’t hurt to say we are any less a part of the story. when they are in government. on side.” An outcome of the lengthening years is That time frame — and the fact I have only North-west Tasmania, of course, is where that I have now been reporting federal been working at the ABC now for little over the electorate of Braddon is located; politics from Canberra longer than any of a month after 37 years working for Fairfax where there is a by-election looming at the the politicians who periodically occupy and News Corp — arms me to question end of next month. Parliament House. occasions when partisan political attacks Page 16 on the ABC might be dressed up as The particular irony of the complaint about complaints about editorial standards. my piece was that, the whole point of the Sharks The very complaints process by which the article was to say that, while there were ABC operates — which for good reason all sorts of versions of what had led to the Smell Blood obliges a level of response other media decision, it ultimately was more important organisations do not apply to themselves to look at the implications of the date, than — can too easily end up being used as a the manoeuvres which led to it. in the Water tool to bully the organisation and erode the The apparently horrendous sins of the trust of its audience. ABC — suggesting the Government might eople who care about the ABC, Pin their hundreds of thousands, Reporting a political decision have an interest in the timing of five by- elections — should be seen in the context are extremely angry at the endless Let’s consider Senator Fifield’s complaints. of a media environment in which some attacks on Australia’s most loved and revered institution. Senator Fifield said it was, “totally major commercial media are embarked on unacceptable for the national broadcaster” a relentless and quite open campaign to It’s not just the appalling Budget to report “this Labor lie” that, “the undermine the ABC because it is a threat cuts, but the insidious campaign to selection of the date of July 28 was a to their commercial interests by competing destabilise our ABC, led by Senator political decision of the Government across media platforms where they are Mitch Fifield, with a chorus of and the Prime Minister”. struggling to make money. journalists and commentators from the predictable stables of hate. The Minister’s reference to this as Silent on other outlets reporting a “Labor lie” lifts the first Groups and individuals who would veil on the difference between By contrast to Senator Fifield, who has not have received air time in the past someone complaining about a now lodged his fifth complaint to the ABC with complaints about the ABC have breach of editorial standards, in five months, the Government as a whole sensed blood in the water and now and someone making a partisan stays publicly silent about the antics of they are coming to “get” the ABC. attack. News Corp, even as ministers and their It’s not just Malcolm Turnbull, Pauline Let’s be blunt here. On the day advisers privately moan about them. Hanson and Rupert Murdoch, but the date of the by-elections was From journalists who threaten to expose a rabble from the malevolent right announced by House Speaker Tony ministers as sexist for not giving them jumping on the bandwagon. Smith, senior cabinet ministers were joking stories, to the sometimes-shrill campaigns Pictured - the Witches of Cawdor. with journalists about the fact the date run by News Corp papers against people would play havoc with Labor’s planned and policies, the Coalition stays silent national conference. about the News agenda. The Prime Minister’s office — not the It feeds stories to the News Corp papers in Speaker’s office — was distributing data the vain hope it will appease a beast which to show there was absolutely nothing out might otherwise turn against it, or in the of the ordinary in waiting so long to hold a deluded view the papers carry an influence by-election. in key electorates recent elections suggest is illusory. Labor was, indeed, furious about the decision. But that doesn’t make it a “Labor There is plenty for anyone to be irritated lie” to say, in an analysis piece, that the about at the ABC, just as you can be decision was a political one. irritated by the antics of News Corp. The difference, however, is that the Timing is everything ABC still strives to deliver a diversity of No-one is suggesting the Speaker does information, analysis and opinion to its not consult with the Government about the audiences. timing of the by-election. Not everyone will always like the opinion, It has been taken as a given since time or the analysis. But if it is informed, and immemorial that by-elections — like informative, it is doing its job. elections — were held at a time convenient News Corp has increasingly opted for If you, the Reader, are also to the government. Equally, it would be a marketing strategy that appeals to a offended, please JOIN THE FIGHT, politically negligent on the Government’s narrow political demographic, and one as we prepare to make our ABC part if it did not make its views clear. which suits the commercial interests of its a major battleground for the next owners. It is worth noting there has been no election. Please go to our website complaint from Mr Smith about the ABC If the ongoing attack on the ABC is indeed to check the dates of Rallies being coverage, nor from the Australian Electoral driven by market forces, it is time to planned, starting in July - Commission. consider the case that public broadcasting www.abcfriends.org.au It is also worth noting there has been has never been more important as a public good. Peter Monie no complaint to the Australian Financial National Treasurer and Victorian Review which, in my case, published Laura Tingle is 7.30’s chief political President, ABC Friends exactly the same column. correspondent. Page 17 Page 18 Contact Ivor 03 8580 6402 or ivor_ [email protected] Boroondara Group – a loyal long- State News standing group (with a couple of new members) continues to meet monthly for lunch at a Balwyn cafe. They had a stall at The audience appreciated an outstanding the Kew Festival. Victorian Groups - talk from Julian on a wide range of topics. These included asylum seekers’ rights, Contact Gael 03 9859 5185 or Geelong refugees, human rights, social issues in [email protected] GEELONG ABC FRIENDS DINNER Australia and elsewhere, funding for the Geelong/Corangamite Group – EVENT WITH GUEST SPEAKER ABC, a recent lack of courage by the ABC besides the very successful dinner, have BARRISTER JULIAN BURNSIDE AO QC. when covering some issues, and many participated in a festival and plan to The Geelong ABC Friends Group held interesting stories from Julian’s life and participate in another later in the year. They its first Dinner Event with barrister Julian career. His speech and the following Q&A received an ‘interesting’ reply to letters to Burnside AO QC who generously agreed session provided the audience with much their local Coalition MP for Corangamite, to be our guest speaker. The event was to think about. ABC Friends could find Sarah Henderson (ex-host of the Victorian much to reflect on. In particular, how can edition of the 7.30 Report and reporter we more effectively encourage the ABC to for The Investigators) justifying the be strong in maintaining the programs and government’s viewpoint on the budget commentary so necessary for the proper cuts and “by announcing this decision functioning of a democratic Australia? In (the planned cuts) now the Government this era of funding cuts, attacks on the has provided the ABC time to plan for ABC and “fake news” it is even more vital implementation in the lead up to the next that the ABC presents accurate and well triennium.” They had a more successful researched information. visit to Richard Marles, Labor MP for Corio Julian Burnside Speaking at the dinner. At the dinner, audience members were and plan to meet with the Labor candidate also encouraged to become informed for Corrangamite. about ABC issues and to support the work Contact Michael (03) 5271 1222 or held at the Eastern Hub in East Geelong of ABC Friends by becoming members. [email protected] on Thursday April 19, 2018. It was a great success, with 130 people attending Michael Kinnane / Hilary Robinson Castlemaine Group - meets bi-monthly (20 people were unable to get a place). Chairperson / Secretary and had Ivor Donohue speaking on We regret that we were only able to Geelong ABC Friends Group complaints about the ABC to ACMA accommodate 130, but the meeting did as well as the results of numerous attract many new faces and potential new investigations into ‘systemic bias’ in the members. The audience represented a Victorian Group Report ABC. They plan to have a street stall in August with their next meeting being on wide range of people from across the Southern Bayside Group – continues consolidating their knowledge of both Geelong area (Corio and Corangamite its tradition of fund raising with another the ABC’s situation as well as about ABC electorates) consisting of ABC Friends successful theatre event and another one Friends. members and their friends as well as planned for August. They have also had people attracted by the guest speaker, street stalls, where they have handed out Margaret 0421 338 155 or Julian Burnside and to issues relating to our new Fact Sheet printed free of charge [email protected] the ABC. at their local MPs offices. Eastern Melbourne Group – have had a successful street stall in Mitcham where they gave out show bags with goodies about the ABC and ABC Friends. They have also written letters to numerous MPs. We plan to have monthly stalls in different areas of Chisholm (a marginal seat) until November. Contact Neil 0411 487 348 or [email protected] Northern Melbourne Group has focused on letter writing to our local MPs and received a supportive reply from Labor’s new MP for Batman, Ged Kearney. We plan to meet with the two main MPs in our area, but did not receive a reply to a request to meet with Bill Shorten whose Dinner guests with Julian Burnside. electorate is partially in our area.

Page 19 Contact Margaret 0421 338 155 or We will be looking for volunteers to help us I am sufficiently old to recall the treatment [email protected] make a significant impact, so if you would of our national broadcaster by previous like to volunteer please contact the ABC governments of both political stripes. I can Margaret Hanrahan Friends’ Victorian office: recall how previous Labor governments Markus May have belaboured the ABC for what ABC Friends Victoria Marginal Seats Tel (03) 9682 0073 they saw as its right-wing bias, and I Federal Election Campaign [email protected] now observe the current conservative government beating the ABC for what You will be aware that anti-ABC activity, they see as its left-wing bias. I have seen conducted by some members of the budget cuts by almost every government government as well as commercial Tasmania since 1978. media and right-wing organisations, has The Chat Nobody likes to have his or her foibles, escalated into full-blown open warfare An email exchange between Karen shortcomings or sins pointed out. As a during 2018. These anti-ABC activities – Treanor, Tasmanian Friend, and Kate writer, I find criticism of my work hard massive funding cuts, continual political Durkin, Tasmanian Secretary interference and on-going complaints – are to take. However, it’s an important Hi Kate all designed to destroy public trust in the service that my critics render, because ABC and undermine the capacity of the Proving that hope will always beat it requires me to check my facts, adjust ABC to fulfil its Charter. One organisation experience, I have written to Minister Fifield my punctuation, rein in my adjectives goes as far as publically declaring its expressing my unhappiness about the and clarify my phrases to make my objective to have the ABC completely shut government’s attack on our ABC. I doubt meaning clearer. The ABC sometimes down or ‘given away’ to private individuals. he will see the letter, and I doubt he will acts as a critic of the government of change his views, but it’s worth a shot. I the day, but rather than give the critique As the next Federal election looms attach the letter for your info. serious consideration, most governments sometime between August 2018 and May react by going off in high dudgeon and 2019 at the Prime Minister’s pleasure, Regards taking the first opportunity to punish the ABC Friends Vic has put together a Karen messenger. Politicians need to realise that questionnaire that will be put to candidates Hello Karen the ABC is not some alien entity pursuing and is intended to identify the Victorian its own agenda, as could be argued the Federal candidates’ committed policies Wonderful letter. commercial profit-driven channels are, but regarding ABC funding and independence. Our national newsletter has been brought is rather the voice of the people. Not all forward by nearly a month to let members Particular attention will be paid to all the people all the time, but enough of the around the country know about all the candidates challenging for Federal seats in people often enough to be taken seriously. Victoria where there is a realistic possibility actions planned in response to budget, Our national broadcaster and its first of a change in the sitting member. IPA call for privatisation etc. More of that soon….. cousin the Special Broadcasting Service In these marginal seats ABC Friends provide information, education, thought- I had a plan about what to include for will request face-to-face meetings with provoking ideas and entertainment. The Tasmania in next edition but it won’t make all major party candidates (parties that commercial channels offer very little of the cut now. commanded 10% or more of votes in the any of that. Not everything on the ABC or 2016 election) to clearly detail the policy I talked with Margaret Reynolds today SBS is to my taste, but I don’t expect it to on public broadcasting they will take to the about your letter and we both agreed it be, any more than I expect everyday life forthcoming election. would make a great Tasmanian entry for experiences to be what I’d have chosen, The candidates’ responses to our the next edition. Speaks for our members given a free hand. here and all members around the country. questionnaire will be published to ABCF When I look at some of the money- members and posted on the ABCF Would you be happy for us to use it in this wasting window dressing projects this and website. way? previous governments have offered with Candidates with policies positive to the Cheers one hand while cheese-paring the ABC ABC’s funding and independence will be Kate with the other, I come close to despair. I had hoped to live long enough to see strongly supported by ABC Friends in the Hi Kate pre-election period, and we will actively some government be brave enough and campaign against candidates who do not Happy if my letter can be of use. My days high-minded enough to give the ABC have pro-ABC policies. at the barricades may be past, but if I can permanent, guaranteed, politics-free still wield a pen, happy to help. funding—but ”Time’s wingèd chariot” is Our pre-election activities will be directed probably going to carry me off long before at ensuring that voters in these marginal Karen that day arrives. electorates are fully informed and aware The Letter of the candidates’ policies regarding I would have emailed this to you but Senator The Hon Mitch Fifield public broadcasting and the ABC, and the NBN has not arrived here yet and 5 June 2018 the potential effect of those policies on apparently never will, and for some reason the ABC and our Australian democracy. Dear Sir our usually slow internet is even slower this This will include attendance at candidates I wish to express my distress over the week. forums where there may be opportunities recent cuts to the operating budget of I don’t suppose you will see this letter, to question candidates. the ABC. but my thanks go to the hard-working

Page 20 are now leased out to state-based and I have written before how ABC Perth was State News independent production houses. once resourced to produce TV and radio programs, the same as in Sydney and In our last report in the April edition of Melbourne but on a smaller scale. This is Update and in a widely-circulated flyer, we electorate officer who will have to read no longer the case; though there are great mentioned that the ABC Perth Centre no and respond to it...or not. As they say, pre- and post-production facilities in the longer had a receptionist. I am pleased to “Been there, done that....got the ulcer to “new” building in East Perth, opened in report that a receptionist has now been prove it.” 2005, the skilled and experienced people provided (using existing staff). Karen Treanor have gone. I’m also somewhat happy to report that Gordon TAS We will continue to be busy over the there will be TV production taking place coming months in the lead-up to the next in the long-unused TV Studio 62 at the Federal Election – lobbying politicians and ABC’s Perth Centre. The “somewhat” Western Australia making sure that the community is aware is because, while it’s great to see the of the policies in relation to the national ACTION IN SUPPORT OF THE ABC studio and other production spaces broadcaster of all parties and candidates. PERTH TOWN HALL UNDERCROFT in use, and new people working in the Wednesday 25 July 2018 building, and also a major production We hope to see you at our Action in 11 am-2 pm happening in Western Australia, there’s a Support of the ABC Rally on Wednesday 25 July, 11am-2pm. Dear WA members and other readers, sadness because it does not include ABC production staff. The Heights is a 30 x Bobbie Mackley I’m happy to report an upsurge in new 30min “slice of life” drama series with an President, ABC Friends WA memberships over the past couple of impressive cast. You can read more about months. I’m not happy about the cause of it here: https://accessreel.com/article/ this increase in support for the ABC – the abcs-new-series-heights-shooting-perth/. South Australia / funding cuts and the continued and vitriolic I hope you will support the WA industry by attacks upon the ABC by the Coalition watching it! Northern territory government, the loud and negative Our national body is certainly making a opinions of right-wing “think tanks”, and difference to coordinating the activity of by sectors of the commercial media. ABC state ABC Friends organisations as we Friends continues to counter these attacks head into 28 August Federal by-elections by lobbying and by reaching out to the and the forthcoming Federal election, public to support “their ABC”. whenever it occurs. When Adelaide was The centralisation of the ABC in Sydney, a announced as the venue for the National result of repeated funding cuts over many Labor Conference, 26 to 28 July, we years, is particularly deleterious to the started planning for a Friends stall in the smaller capital city centres such as Perth, accompanying exhibition space at the Hobart, Adelaide and Brisbane which Adelaide Convention Centre. Resources are all shadows of the lively centres of and ideas were offered from interstate and production they once were. The buildings Above: The public express their SA members were generous in offering have been emptied of ABC staff and thoughts for the ABC. Below: Perth their time to run the stall during the three Town Hall, 20th November, 2014. days of the conference. Now, that has been put on hold. The clash with the Federal by-election date (28 July) has meant the conference will now be held Sunday 16 to Tuesday 18 December. In the meantime, we have sent out a questionnaire to candidates in the Mayo by-election asking for their commitment to increased funding and guaranteed independence for the national broadcaster. We will use the feedback we get, to inform our members who vote in Mayo about candidates’ stand. In April, we had at hand merchandise, relevant information about pressures the ABC is under and confronting into the future, and a roster of our Executive to run our autumn stall at the ABC’s Gardeners’ Market. The day before, with an ominous weather forecast, the event was cancelled. What a disappointment. The Gardeners’ Market is always a great event. The next one is in spring, on Saturday 13 October.

Page 21 to understand how ABC Adelaide seems loss of jobs connected with Classic FM to work in an ongoing climate of ABC late last year, beginning in September, budget cuts and technological change. and changes to the station’s programming But all is not as it may seem. Sources appear to have expedited the decision from inside the ABC paint a different to close the library. Stephen Watkins picture. The open plan environment has and Greta Bradman are the last two been foisted on staff and it is often a broadcasters for Classic FM from disruptive environment for staff in which to Adelaide. There remains a music producer work. Some of this open space is empty who records classical concerts. These because of redundancies. are broadcast from Adelaide live or having been recorded. In March this year, the ABC closed its Adelaide Sound Library. The closure came In September, as part of the refurbishment just days before the SA state election, with of the offices, money had been spent reports suggesting that the eastward drift to shift the Sound Library from the 5th of ABC jobs away from SA over several storey of the building to the ground floor years contributed to the decision. The and to convert a room in the old staging Sue Pinnock, Christopher Pyne and Sound Library was extensive as Adelaide area, to a suitable storage space for the Aussie Kanck. was once Classic FM headquarters. The library. Six months later, the Sound Library

On Saturday 5 May, over breakfast, members took part in our Cafe Quiz at La Vita Cafe Ristorante at Kidman Park. We did quite well in ABC Radio Adelaide’s Saturday morning quiz with one of us winning a “bragger’s” prize for a large number of correct responses. Friday 18 May saw the Executive visiting the rearranged and refurbished ABC Adelaide offices at Collinswood. ABC Adelaide now occupies three storeys of the eight storey building, with a few tenants occupying some of the remaining space. Graeme Bennett, Manager of ABC Radio Adelaide, spoke to us about operations at the Collinswood site, how changes in technology have affected production out of Adelaide and what the redesign of office space has meant for how staff work together; there is much more open space to enhance team work. There is no doubt that over several years, production from Above: Marching for Volunteering Week. Below: Emma Davis, Nicholas Maher the ABC in Adelaide has virtually dried and Charlotte Batty from BTN. up and staff redundancies have occurred representing a huge loss of expertise and opportunity for Adelaide, one of the smaller states population wise. In the TV production parts of the ABC , it was astonishing to see how developments in computing and technology have affected how few people are required to make a product (e.g. nightly news) and coordinate scheduling of programmes over the 24 hours of each day. We met staff involved in the production of BTN and saw how the programme is made. This year BTN is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Sadly, but happily for BTN, it is the last national programme coming out of Adelaide. Visiting the ABC in Adelaide was a very useful experience for our Executive

Page 22 was shut down completely and moved to The objective of the review is to assess more information can be distributed to a Melbourne. Three library staff have been the reach of Australia’s media in the Asia larger audience and to more parts of this made redundant and the CD collection lost Pacific region, including examining whether vast State. to Adelaide. Half the ABC’s collection of shortwave radio technology should be On Saturday May 12 the Beerwah Library vinyl recordings, about 150,000 of them, used. Our submission due on 3rd August, offered a meeting room with a glass wall including many believed to be of historic gives us a chance to recommend DRM providing a view looking at the lagoon. value remain in Adelaide, no longer with (digital radio mondiale), a digital technology What a serene setting for an embryonic any library staff to oversee this collection. that has all the attributes of SW: FM audio meeting for a North Coast and Hinterland It remains housed in the one-time staff clarity, reliability during weather events and branch. Attendees from Maleny spoke of canteen out the back of the Collinswood an excellent big footprint over distance holding future meetings in their home, an studios. and across mountainous regions. With ideal way to ground Friends of the ABC some relatively inexpensive modification, Now centralised in Melbourne, the Sound in the area. DRM can also use the transmitters over Library operates on-line from there. The Of course, the usual ABC trauma (meek new way of operating is proving to be time which the old SW used to be broadcast. If you remember, the ABC ceased its SW executive management, retrenchments, consuming and frustrating for local staff. service into the NT and South Pacific on loss of hundreds of staff) was discussed In Adelaide, programme makers have to 31 January 2017, claiming that it was and the mood was sombre. search a data base containing a fraction old technology. Well DRM, its digital of the collection that has been digitised. Agreeing that more activity was needed equivalent, isn’t. Can you imagine losing and the forming of a pro-ABC political If an item is not on the data base, a call such a valuable broadcasting service such party was touched on. goes to Melbourne where the item is put as SW and having nothing to effectively on-line and then it is downloaded from It was agreed the next meeting would be replace it with, whether you are a remote, the Adelaide end. Previously, library staff, at the Montville Markets on 11 August. mobile user in the Northern Territory or a with their specialist knowledge and on local, living in the PNG highlands? Just Our focus now is on the Rally to be site, upon receiving a request would have awful! held at the ABC Building at Southbank accessed an appropriate item from the Brisbane on Friday 13 July. collection for immediate use. Sue Pinnock President Ross McDowell On 7 May, three senior journalists from President News, including Mike Sexton (30 years in the ABC), were made redundant. The ABC Queensland is seeking to shift the balance of journalists New South Wales in favour of those with digital skills and The Queensland committee has been From NSW President: experience. This represents a huge loss working very hard to increase our exposure Professor Ed Davis of editorial experience and mentoring to more Queenslanders by involving capacity. The majority of people still listen people from different regional areas to be There has been a massive wave of anger to radio; only one tenth of people listen part of the committee discussions. We across NSW at the appalling budget via digital platforms (mobile phone or live recently had Jan Hamilton from Mungindi cuts proposed by Treasurer Scott streaming). It appears that the pursuit of at our local meeting and Jan was able to Morrison. This is another $84 million cut digital, augmented by budget cuts, results inform us as to the needs and aspirations on top of the $254 million cuts in the in staff redundancies to save money. Staff of ABC followers in rural Queensland. It infamous Hockey 2014 budget. Then morale is low. certainly was very interesting to hear how there is the line-up of Pauline Hanson dependent rural folk are on a vibrant ABC, inspired inquiries designed to weaken On our Executive , the vital roles of as well to hear that the ABC is the only the ABC. And, the monthly attacks Treasurer and Secretary become vacant reliable transmission into these remote from Senator Mitch Fifield, Minister for at our AGM to be held at the CWA on areas. Minutes of our meetings are sent to Communications, with Prime Minister, Sunday 19 August, 2pm to 4pm. We ABC Friends in Toowoomba, Gold Coast Malcolm Turnbull and Home Affairs are currently doing a lot of work to find and Central Queensland so they can Minister, Peter Dutton close behind. replacements for these positions. One report on activities being conducted by the The federal government appears option, we are using, is working through ABC Friends committee. contemptuous of public broadcasting in Volunteering SA and NT to advertise these Australia. Yet we know that 80% of the positions. We are pleased to say that we The release of the John Clarke calendar Australian population engage with the are having success. On Monday 21 May, was very successful in Queensland, with ABC, value it and trust it. It is a national a small group of us walked under our 250 non-members buying the calendar, treasure. NSW Friends have been greatly Friends banner in the Volunteering SA and which demonstrated to the committee heartened by the astonishing numbers of NT march during National Volunteer Week that not everyone has to join the ABC people contacting us to join, donate and to promote our state organisation. Friends to show their enthusiasm for a volunteer their time to fight for a well- strong ABC. It would be great to enrol Following a visit to Christopher Pyne’s funded and independent ABC. all supporters, but just knowing they are office in mid May by Aussie Kanck and me Join us on Sunday 8 July, 2-4 pm, out there, promoting the ABC, is really to discuss the loss of SW into the NT and at the NSW Teachers Federation encouraging. South Pacific, we were delighted to hear auditorium, 23 Mary St, Surry Hills, that the Government has set up a Review With the cuts to ABC budgets and staffing, close by Central Station, to hear great of Australian Broadcasting Services in the the number of new members signing up speakers and indicate your Asia Pacific. to ABC Friends has increased and hence support for the ABC.

Page 23 NSW Branch News

parliamentary respect for journalists, Having established an ABC Friends Armidale and questioning cutbacks to Radio (Armidale) media prize, we look forward to National music programs and shortwave awarding this to a worthy student later in Here in the New England we continue broadcasting. After collecting signatures the year. This prize consists of $1000 to to attend the Armidale Markets at the we asked our local member, Barnaby the strongest applicant in their final year of end of each season. We always have Joyce, to present this petition to the the University of New England’s Bachelor plenty of talking points concerning the Federal House of Representatives. of Media and Communications. importance of public broadcasting with Unfortunately, we had been unaware of All the best from Armidale. which to engage the public. With what the prescribed wording for such a petition. Bruce Stevenson appear to be growing threats to the We had addressed the petition “To the President ABC, we utilised a petition at the end of Deputy Prime Minister and Member for May requesting the Australian Parliament New England, the Honourable Barnaby to oppose the intended cut of $84 million Joyce MP, and Members of the House of to our national broadcaster. Representatives” when in fact it should Blue Mountains Armidale is not a big place, but we got be addressed to either “The House of Our Blue Mountains branch, like 150 signatures over a couple of hours. Representatives” or “The Honourable many other branches in NSW/ACT, These signatures and covering letter will Speaker and Members of the House enthusiastically welcomed Ed Davis, our be sent to our Deputy Prime Minister, of Representatives”. No other body or State President, to our meeting in April at Mr Michael McCormack. It was felt that person (e.g., one’s local member) should Wentworth Falls Grandview Hotel. Ed’s as leader of the National Party he was be referred to on the petition. The result address was very well received. Members the most appropriate recipient from a was that our petition was invalid and and visitors were richly rewarded with Ed’s regional area; our current Federal MP is could not be presented to the House of inspiring, passionate, and very informative on personal leave and the Minister for Representatives. One minor win was address. Ed emphasised the real and Communication regrettably does not when Barnaby Joyce promised to pass increasing threats to our ABC, and the seem to be taking a nonpartisan position it on to the Communications Minister, vital role of ABC Friends in defending when it comes to the ABC. Mitch Fifield. For those contemplating our national treasure. Recruiting new The Armidale branch is also planning to a petition, it is certainly worth visiting members is more important than ever, hold a letter-writing workshop, where the relevant website (www.aph.gov.au/ and Ed suggested that existing members we invite interested members of the Parliamentary_Business/Petitions), encourage a friend or relative to join, public to attend an evening in which which includes a prescriptive information thereby doubling our membership and letters arguing for the value of public sheet. We know better for next time. influence. broadcasting will be written and sent on A more positive note is our collaboration We enjoyed a stimulating Q&A session, to Canberra. with other community groups in the New with Ed fielding questions on a variety On this point, it would be of value if ABC England area. Several years ago ABC of issues, including the changing Friends could organise a blog site where Friends (Armidale) supported the local technological face and pace of the ABC. people could contribute responses to a International Film Festival, helping to bring Ed and his wife were able to join us for question like “What has the ABC ever David Stratton to Armidale for this festival, lunch where the conversation continued. done for Australia?” (… with thanks to which is a major event on Armidale’s Thanks again to Ed. cultural calendar. This year we wanted ‘The Life of Brian’ for the inspiration). For Our Co-Vice President Barry Redshaw is to try and repeat our earlier success, example, can anyone tell us how many the editor and producer of our fabulous with another visit by David. However, a ABC reports have triggered (i) a Royal monthly ABC Friends Blue Mountains visit had to be aborted because David Commission, (ii) other government/legal branch Newsletter. Barry is eternally was invited as a special guest to the responses to corrupt and questionable vigilant in his scouring of the media for Cannes Film Festival, with a film on his activities, and what programs provided ABC-related reports, commentary and life presented in Cannes. We had the those reports? The ABC arguably gives analysis. He keeps us informed of the good fortune to then source that same a lot more back to Australia than it costs, latest attacks/defence of the ABC with film through the International Film Festival if only we could quantify it. And even his Snippets each month. Barry and Bev committee, and present it here in Armidale then, a Royal Commission costs millions, are truly dedicated long-term defenders of in late July. ABC Friends and film-lovers but who directly reads the findings? the ABC and super-active Blue Mountains have both benefited from this cooperation. We generally hear about it through the ABC Friends members. They are a tireless Similar cooperation has extended to other media, and surveys tell us the most team! trusted is the ABC. groups in our area. The message being that support for public broadcasting is Barry recently conducted a Fundraising In our March report the ABC Friends multi-faceted, and there may be natural Survey at a branch meeting. The most (Armidale) reported on the collection synergies with other groups in one’s popular choices for fund-raising were: of signatures for a petition concerning community. 1. A fund-raising breakfast, lunch or dinner

Page 24 with a celebrity speaker. factors that can lead to a rise in interest 2. A community market or public event rates and securing a budget surplus is promotional booth, (we hope to have a no guarantee against future increases. In stall at the November Rhododendron any case, minimal rates of interest aren’t Festival at Blackheath). necessarily a sign of a healthy economy any more than above average rates are. 3. A public event EG: forum, workshop, conference or seminar in conjunction with Regrettably the Coalition’s approach to other community groups. (We plan to have the Reserve bank is not one it favours a Forum with local politicians once the when dealing with the ABC. Despite the federal election date is announced, as per introduction of an independent selection our previous successful 2016 Forum). panel by Stephen Conroy the government has exploited a clause in the legislation 4. A members’ family and friends “secret” to ignore the panel and make its own one-day car rally. appointments. As a consequence the ABC Meanwhile, our monthly raffle is very Board appears to have an abundance of Fiona Martin popular and is raising much needed funds business talent but lacks broadcasting for our branch. Members have donated expertise. The consequences of repeated this means convening a public meeting fantastic items for raffling. expenditure cuts, $254 million over five and hosting representatives from the Barry, in response to What Can We Do as years announced in November 2014, and relevant unions, members of parliament a Group?, has established a core group a freeze in funding indexation for three and individuals with experience in media of letter-writers. This group’s mission years from July next year seem to be policy and broadcasting. The date set for is to write letters to local and national lost on the Federal Government. Indeed this meeting is 6.00 pm on August 3rd in papers and relevant politicians regarding some of its members give the impression the Parkview room at the Central Coast the relentless cuts to the ABC Budget, that if public broadcasting ceased to Leagues Club. It is my intention to visit as the persistent attacks by other anti-ABC exist at all that would be no bad thing. many community groups as possible prior organizations and individuals, and the very As Kerry O’Brien noted in a recent Late to this date to convince them to attend. significant role played by ABC Friends in Night Live interview the thought of having We should also consider petitioning the protesting against these attacks on the A Current Affair as the flagship current Federal Government. affairs program across the nation is not ABC. Of course, writing letters and emails We have had confirmation from Sinddy something any curious or engaged viewer is not limited to this dedicated group. We Ealy, an officer with the CPSU, to attend would want to contemplate. As Friends encourage all our members to write to our meeting on August 3rd. Sinddy spoke of the ABC we should all be concerned and make phone calls to our politicians in very impressively at our inaugural national that the public broadcaster, if not fighting defence of our public broadcaster. conference last year. I am now waiting on for its existence, is certainly at risk of confirmation from the following: Michelle Maybe our motto could be Defend not being unable to properly fulfil its charter Rowland, the shadow communications Defund! Although, Befriend and Defend obligations. sounds good too! minister, a representative from the MEAA, Our task as Friends over the coming Emma McBride MP and Dr Fiona Martin Sue Noske months is to raise awareness about the from Sydney University. Once confirmation President threat posed to the ABC by a combination of attendance is obtained from other of government approved board members, invitees we can move towards promoting unnecessary reviews secured by the event. aggrieved politicians and excessive and Central Coast Thank you repeated cuts resulting in a loss of staff One of the landmark reforms of the and services. Within our local community Ross McGowen Howard-Costello era was formalising the President independence of the Reserve Bank. This meant that one of the most important instruments in economic policy was taken Eastern Suburbs out of the hands of politicians who were likely to make economic decisions based ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING/FORUM on short term political gain rather than HELD ON 30 APRIL 2018 consider the long term ramifications for In order to activate the Eastern Suburbs the economy. The Reserve’s autonomy ABC Friends group, the Secretary, Nizza resulted in interest rates being raised Siano, called for an Annual General during the 2007 election, possibly because Meeting combined with a forum, on the board wanted to quell inflationary Monday evening 30 April 2018 in Bondi pressures. This decision created some Junction. embarrassment to Mr Howard who had There were a number of apologies and repeatedly claimed that his government’s about 20 members attended. policies had kept interest rates at relatively low levels in contrast to the Labor party. President Nance Loney chaired the To many economists this claim was Michelle Rowland meeting. The guest speaker was the somewhat dubious, there are numerous relatively newly-elected NSW President of

Page 25 ABC Friends Ed Davis who spoke on the This group is looking forward to will also attend and speak after Sharon. subject ‘The Challenge Facing the ABC’. implementing some of its good ideas, Allan Thomas Ed is a local resident of the Eastern particularly as part of a major campaign President Suburbs so is also a member of this group. by ABC Friends and its supporters, in the lead-up to the Federal Election. Professor Ed Davis was introduced to the group and spoke passionately about Nizza Siano Northern Rivers Secretary public broadcasting, seeing it as essential Northern Rivers ABC Friends area provides to the quality of life of all Australians and a diverse array of political representation. key to the function of democracy. He There is a government MP in Page pointed out that democracy cannot be Hunter Electorate(Kevin Hogan, National Party), sustained in the absence of accurate and Members of the Hunter Branch of Labor in Tweed and, at a state level , impartial news and analysis. ABCF held a stall at Newcastle Farmers Greens in the seat of Ballina. Market on Sunday 27 May. It was a very After Ed’s presentation, a number of It was clear after the damaging 2014 successful event, with many people questions were asked and a general budget that Mr Hogan was ignoring showing a great deal of interest and discussion took place about activities this our strong criticism of cuts to the concern about the future of the ABC. We group could undertake, to spread the ABC. We toned down the rhetoric and have held two previous stalls at these word in the community, of the importance emphasised the contribution the ABC markets over the past five years and this of becoming active and supporting our makes to rural and regional Australia, one generated the most interest, reflecting cause to protect the ABC. It was agreed especially his National Party constituents. the current concerns about the ABC’s that attacks on our public broadcaster In mid 2017, he agreed to a meeting future. by certain politicians, have become even and was surprisingly supportive of our more vicious recently. We estimate about 150 people must have representations. There was great enthusiasm amongst interacted with us in the five hours we Prior to the 2018 budget, we reminded those present at this meeting and many were there, as we distributed “The Real him of his support, and of the benefits ideas thrown around but unfortunately, it Facts about Your ABC” leaflets and Join/ to his party, of a properly funded public did not translate into finding someone who Renewal forms. The concern of ABC broadcaster. was prepared to nominate as President listeners/viewers was palpable and many for 2018-19. However, a number of people engaged in lengthy discussion with Following the “call to arms” initiated by members stepped forward, declaring their us. However it was noticeable that very ABC Friends in May, numbers of our willingness to become actively involved few young people (say 18 to 30 years old) members and supporters called Bill and so a committee was formed. were interested. This is a worry, especially Shorten`s office to register concern about since the ABC apparently targets this age the freezing of the ABC`s budget over the The outgoing President Nance Loney group, as their future audience. Perhaps next three years. Contact by phone and volunteered once again to continue in her the State Conference could discuss email was also made with both Federal role as President as an interim measure how to attract and engage with younger MP`s (Richmond and Page), urging them however, Ed Davis suggested that he people. to re instate adequate funding to the could take on the dual role of President ABC. The recent commitment by Labor is of the Eastern Suburbs group as well as The Hunter branch AGM will be held on 22 NSW President, until such time as the September and our guest speaker will be gratifying and we know that the Greens are group found someone willing to take on Sharon Claydon, ALP Federal Member for also on side. the position of President permanently. Newcastle. NSW ABCF President Ed Davis The one line response we received from

Farmers Market, 27th May.

Page 26 Mr Hogan, simply reiterating the ABC`s can and should be applied to public their concerns. 3 year budget, was just another fob off. broadcasters. Submissions close on 22 June, so we Maintaining a neutral and apolitical stance Is the ABC’s content qualitatively different have a short time left to finish off our work is growing increasingly difficult! from that of the commercials, and and send it in. Then we need to think Peter Dickson therefore in a fundamentally different about the recently-announced review into President product? Are the public broadcasters so broadcasting services to the Asia-Pacific! obviously working in the “public interest” that this overrides competitive neutrality The ACT Region group is still re- ACT considerations? It was good to have local establishing, but we seem to have found member and Shadow Assistant Treasurer a good place for convivial meetings at the It was great to see over 300 people brave along to provide his views. We also had Fellows Bar at ANU’s University House, a cold night to go to the Politics in the Pub some interesting discussion on whether and welcome any members who would session on The Future of the ABC hosted there was any point in making submissions like to contribute ideas and be involved in by The Australia Institute in May. This at all. In the end there was consensus future activities. The next meeting will be was followed by our workshop on writing that it was important not to be put off held on Wednesday 27 June, at 6.00pm at submissions to the Inquiry into Competitive by the technical nature of the inquiry or the Fellows Bar. Come along for a drink, a Neutrality and National Broadcasting. to leave it to corporate interests or large meal and to talk about what’s been going We’ve had some interesting discussions organisations to make submission, but to on and what more we can do. about the whole concept of competitive show that ABC supporters were prepared neutrality, and the extent to which it to delve into these issues and raise Peter Lindenmayer

ABC DEFENDERS CAMPAIGN – JOIN THE FIGHT FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH – AND NOW THE BADGE!

ABC Friends launched our ABC Defenders Campaign a little short of a year ago, and we are adding new Defenders week by week. Do go to our website to see our Defenders and their messages of support for your ABC: www.abcfriends.org.au/index.php/abc-friends- defenders-campaign/ Our Defenders Badges are to be proudly worn – they will stimulate many a conversation: and knowing how much support the ABC has in the Australian community, they will be 90% friendly conversations.

Page 27 Join the ABC Friends There is strength in numbers, and every membership counts at this time of unprecedented attacks on ‘Our ABC’. To join go to www.abcfriends.org.au or phone your local contact below.

State Branches

Victoria/National Office – ABC Friends Queensland – Friends of the ABC Western Australia – ABC Friends GPO Box 4065 Melbourne VIC 3001 Ross McDowell Bobbie Mackley Phone: 03 9682 0073 5 Dunn Ct Bunya Qld 4055 PO Box 534 Subiaco WA 6904 [email protected] Phone: 07 3870 7718 [email protected] [email protected] NSW & ACT – ABC Friends Tasmania – ABC Friends South Australia & Northern Territory Ed Davis Kate Durkin (Secretary) FABC NSW PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 – ABC Friends 55 Feltham St North Hobart Tas 7000 Phone: 0438 166 986 Sue Pinnock Phone: 0447 645 345 [email protected] PO Box 7158 Hutt St Adelaide SA 5000 [email protected] Phone: 0407 035 701 [email protected]

NSW/ACT Regional Branches

ACT Region Eastern Suburbs Illawarra Northern Rivers Peter Lindenmayer Nizza Siano (Secretary) Jan Kent (Secretary) Jennie Hicks (Secretary) Phone: 0497 976 945 16 Holland Rd PO Box 8 Phone 0431 958 911 [email protected] Bellevue Hill NSW 2023 Keiraville 2500 [email protected] Armidale Phone/Fax: 02 9327 3423 Phone/Fax: 02 4271 3531 Byron sub branch Priscilla Connor (Secretary) [email protected] [email protected] Jill Keogh 41 Judith Street Phone: 02 6688 4558 Hunter Armidale NSW 2350 [email protected] Allan Thomas Mid North Coast Phone: 02 6772 2217 7 Cantwell Road Drusi Megget Tweed sub branch [email protected] Lochinvar NSW 2321 24 Arncliffe Ave Sandy Copley Phone: 02 4930 7309 Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Phone: 02 6677 1570 Blue Mountains [email protected] Phone: 02 6583 8798 [email protected] Sue Noske (President) [email protected] Lismore sub branch Phone: 02 4751 8320 Publicity Officers Harry Creamer Therese Crollick Mobile: 0421 020 610 Margaret and Robert Conners PO Box 1888 Phone: 02 6624 2289 [email protected] 4 Wattle Street Port Macquarie 2444 [email protected] Bolton Point NSW 2283 Phone: 02 6582 6187 Central Coast Phone: 02 4959 8464 Mobile: 0431 158 252 Ross McGowen [email protected] 11 Weemala Cres Terrigal NSW 2260 Phone: 0439 440 955 [email protected]

Victorian Groups

Boroondara Group Eastern Melbourne Inner Melbourne Southern Bayside Gail Barrett Neil Barter Russell Huntington Ivor Donohue 03 9859 5185 0411 487 348 0401 080 762 03 9580 6402 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] ivor_donohue@hotmail

Castlemaine Group Geelong Group Northern Melbourne Margaret Hanrahan Michael Kinnane Margaret Hanrahan 0421 338 155 03 5271 1222 0421 338 155 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]