UpdateJune 2020 Vol 28, No. 2 Thrice Yearly Newsletter

ABC Friends

Margaret Reynolds A Call to Action!ABC Friends National President dollar budget but that is the budget of a BC Friends urge all our members single commercial television station!! How and supporters to get active in much more value does the ABC provide in electorate of the Communications Minister A defending the ABC as the Federal servicing all Australians through its various are constantly lobbying Paul Fletcher to Government gears up to further impose platforms and offices around Australia? let him know they expect him to act in the “economic sanctions” on Australian Public And where is the Chair of the ABC Board best interests of the ABC. Broadcasting. Ita Buttrose? Is she using her influence We can all message our local Members or There have been punitive cuts to the ABC as a friend of the Prime Minister to get a Senators by letter, email, text, or phone. over several years now but enough is much better deal for the ABC? Write to your local paper or phone your enough! In coming weeks you will hear of a Five local radio station. The ABC is an essential service as it has Year Plan for the ABC. It could so easily Remember the ABC does not belong demonstrated so effectively during the provide restoration of funding for public to any government. It belongs to and is devastating bush fires and pandemic broadcasting as part of Australia’s Social funded by Australian taxpayers so you crises. It is providing so much more with and Economic Recovery. Instead it is have good reason to expect your opinion so much less funding. rumoured to cut 200 jobs, close regional to be heard. offices and restrict Australian content. Government members and senators The ABC is an essential service and repeatedly pretend there is no funding You can stop this. Voter power can make urgently needs the restoration of its crisis and boast that the ABC has a billion a difference. The people of Bradfield in the funding.

IPA is Wrecking our democracy 9 Letter from the Leader of Inside Update Quentin Dempster AO 10 Opposition, Anthony Albanese, MP 17 ABC wage freeze threatens Fact Check - Holding Public Figures Accountable 17 From the Editor 2 broadcaster’s independence 11 The Palace Letters 18 Impending Cuts at the ABC 3 Submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural The Friends’ Shop 18 A warning to the Government 4 Disaster Arrangements 12 Somerville cartoon 18 Vale Mark Ruse, Distinguished ABC Alumni Newsletter 13 Producer 5 The ABC’s Foreign Correspondents 19 Close to the Bone 14 Hundreds facing the sack with what the people think about the ABC 20 ABC cuts 6 Well Done ABC! 15 State News 22 For our ABC ‘tragics’ a pdf book 8 Cutting the ABC cuts public trust, NSW Branch News 28 a cost no democracy can afford 16 Political Q & A 8

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 1 Update Publication Information From the Editor Update is published three times a year by ABC Friends National Inc. PO Box 3620 Manuka ACT 2603 Print Post approved: PP245059/00002. ABC – An Essential Service Branches Extracts from newspapers and other The special Bushfire Edition of Update Restrictions on gatherings throughout the publications appearing in Update do not necessarily reflect the views of the in February focussed on the vital role pandemic have prevented many of the members of ABC Friends. played by the ABC in keeping endangered normal branch activities from taking place, Update is distributed to all members of communities informed and safe. In including the launch of new branches ABC Friends as part of the membership a submission to the Bushfires Royal in the Western Suburbs of Sydney and fee. Update is also supplied to Commission (prepared by SA President Shoalhaven (NSW), but branches have journalists, politicians and libraries across Australia. Sue Pinnock), recognition of the ABC by been making creative use of technology, all Australians as an essential service is including Zoom gatherings, covered in Update is edited and produced in Sydney and contributions are welcome highlighted. Sue has written a summary of branch and state reports in Update. ACT from state and regional branches. Email that submission for this edition of Update. Region is preparing for the by-election your contribution (in Microsoft Word) to in Eden-Monaro on 4 July, and will be [email protected] or Close on the heels of the national post to address below bushfire emergency came the COVID19 very active in ensuring that the ABC is a major factor in people’s choice when they Material may be quoted or reproduced pandemic and, once again, the ABC has from Update provided the source is performed an essential public service as cast their votes. The electorate covers acknowledged and reproduction is sent the dependable source of information the South Coast of NSW and up into the to the Editor at the above email or postal Snowy Mountains, an area devastated by address. on a daily basis, including advice and instructions from state and federal the recent bushfires. Please contact ACT Would you like to receive government and public health officials, with Region Convenor Peter Lindenmayer at Update newsletter nightly segments on 7.30, often featuring [email protected] if you are able to electronically? Dr Norman Swan, and special editions of help in any way on or before election day. Save the planet’s trees and ABC Friends’ the Q&A program. printing and postage costs and read Recognition of an ABC Veteran Update on your tablet or computer. When It must be recognised that, over the past Update is published, you will receive an eight months, ABC staff have performed ABC Friends offers warm congratulations email with a link to the latest issue (each magnificently on order to ensure that the to veteran ABC reporter and Foreign newsletter is a 2-3MB PDF). Australian community is both informed Correspondent Sean Dorney, who has You can try this now by going to and safe, despite the savage funding cuts been awarded an AO in the Queen’s www.abcfriends.org.au, click on Birthday Honours just announced. In a long ‘News’, then ‘National Newsletter’. from an unsympathetic and unappreciative Federal Government. This despite many and distinguished career with the ABC, Who to write… calls from the community to increase Sean became a familiar voice reporting with Anyone seeking basic information funding to cover the ABC’s role as national great authority from The Pacific Region about writing to persons of influence emergency broadcaster. I must record my and Papua - New Guinea. Sean was one might find it helpful to go to personal appreciation of the 15 presenters of the 1,000 casualties in the staff cuts www.abcfriends.org.au, click on since 2014, depriving the ABC audience of ‘Get Involved’, then ‘Take Action’ where on ABC Classic for their extraordinarily you will find helpful addresses and ideas. creative use of music to sooth, comfort, his vast knowledge and experience of the challenge, sustain and entertain a radio region. Update Editor - Mal Hewitt audience from the very young to the very In closing, I quote Mark Scott, Managing PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 old, and the many ways in which they have Director, ABC, 2006-2016: “The world’s [email protected] connected with that audience. content is going to flood in. You can listen Production Manager - to great radio from all around the world. Angela Williamson Morgan Poll But who will tell Australian stories? Who will [email protected] ABC Friends Victoria is to be congratulated have local voices on the ground all around Assistant Editor - for commissioning a Roy Morgan poll of Australia? Who will celebrate Australian Dr Diana Wyndham community attitudes to the ABC, which culture? I think that is the space the public Cartoonist - Phil Somerville provides hard evidence of the extraordinary broadcaster will increasingly need to play.” Phil currently runs an online topical level of trust and confidence in which the My sincere thanks to all who have cartoon by paid subscription called Line ABC is held by all Australians. My thanks contributed to this edition of Update, but of Thought. Enquire at phil.somerville@ to Marcus May for providing the summary especially my incredible production team: somervillecartoons.com of survey results for this Update. Thanks Diana Wyndham, Angela Williamson and Layout Artist - Paul Martens also to Victorian Friends for producing the Paul Martens. [email protected] striking “Stop the Cuts” advertisement, Mal Hewitt OAM which appeared prominently in The ABC Friends Melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald on 3 June.

2 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 1995 there have been three efficiency Impending Cuts at the ABC reports – all have proved that it’s a myth that the ABC is inefficient

is more and more difficult to run the ABC • One thing has improved, according Monica Attard as it should be run. to Paul Barry. There are not the same chats to Paul Barry ‘Culture Wars’ attacks as there were under • The ABC gets good ratings and the on 2SER 107.3 Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott when public loves the ABC and it agrees Fourth Estate Mitch Fifield was the Minister. Abbott that the ABC is doing a good job but Zoom Session boycotted Q & A. Under Morrison and the government says ‘no’ to additional 14 May 2020 Fletcher there is ‘no way’ Morrison would funding. Notes taken by contemplate this. [I think this is wishful Diana Wyndham • No one in Government is listening to thinking – Morrison’s fulsome praise for the argument: there have been massive Alan Jones is probably an indication of his COVID-19 payments and massive job dislike for the ABC]. Some points which ABC’s Media losses. So Government should look at • David Anderson announced an entire Watch presenter Paul Barry made to major changes in the ABC and give it ABC Channel may have to go. The cuts Monica Attard, Professor and Head of more money have the biggest impact on Current Affairs Journalism at UTS: • The ABC cost 8 cents a day in 1980 (they have the largest budget). Now there • The ABC Insiders program has 548,000 according to David Hill. It now costs is massive outsourcing and one reporter viewers and its keynote political interview 4 cents per day and is doing so much has to do the work him/herself without the often sets the news agenda for the more than it did back in 1980 support of a camera and lighting people. week – it has much more influence than • The ABC has already re-cast the way More Drama is done as a co-production Andrew Bolt’s Sky program. it operates to be more relevant to the with funding from other sources (such as • Ther e have been $783 million dollars digital age and it needs to decide what Screen Australia and commercial sources) cut since 2014 and the ABC will have is/isn’t important to have on the ABC – • Regional media is shutting down, leaving to be cut more to balance the books. It some people complain about ‘lifestyle’ a gap that must be filled by the ABC. is getting tougher and tougher to make programs but the programs need to Commercial media is suffering so programs – Drama has been cut and it broadcast for ALL Australians. Since the ABC must fill that gap.

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 3 A WARNING TO THE GOVERNMENT – AUSTRALIANS OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSE ABC BUDGET CUTS

Those numbers are a warning to the Marcus May Government that voters have had enough VIC Friends Vice-President of ABC budget cuts. Successive Coalition Governments have slashed ABC funding by a total of $783 million since 2014. The ABC has enemies in high places: The Liberal Party Federal Council voted The Morgan survey shows Australians to privatise it and that’s still official Liberal overwhelmingly turn to the ABC in Policy, even though many Liberals say times of crisis, underlining the national that they support the ABC and that broadcaster’s critical role in the bushfire privatisation will never happen. The crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Murdoch media campaign incessantly The Morgan survey reveals how against it. The Institute of Public Affairs Australians are turning to the ABC in large (IPA) says the ABC is ‘out of touch with numbers for news and current affairs, ordinary Australians’, and commissioned a respected independent research group, children’s education and quality drama, dodgy opinion poll to back up its claims - Roy Morgan, the poll found Australians across television, the web and radio. findings subsequently dismantled in Media overwhelmingly value the ABC and the The survey also found that 71% of Watch. services it provides. adult Australians value the ABC for But an overwhelming majority of • 76% of Australians oppose its independence and 77% say they Australians support the ABC, think it’s can rely on it for accurate information. any further cuts to the ABC’s performing well and oppose further budget There is little support for claims that the cuts. That’s not just what we say – it’s budget ABC is biased – only 13% do not value backed up by a Roy Morgan opinion the ABC for its independence and only poll commissioned by ABC Friends. • 49% believe it should get 12% disagree that it can be relied on for And unlike the IPA poll, ours is credible more Federal Government accurate information. and unbiased. Carried out by the highly funding

Page 4 Roy Morgan reported verbatim comments Victorian President Peter Monie said: The Morrison Government says jobs are from survey respondents including: ‘Budget cuts threaten the very ABC important. It was willing to spend up to • ‘The ABC has great value to services that Australians value – crisis $130 billion (since revised down by $60 Australians.’ information, news and current affairs, billion after an embarrassing forecasting error) to support employment during the • ‘Every Australian is somehow educational children’s programming, the Arts and quality drama. COVID-19 crisis. But apparently it doesn’t connected to the ABC.’ care about jobs at the ABC. • ‘Vital to all our lives. Especially for ‘There is strong community support for the ABC across the community. It is likely that 200 more jobs will have to rural services like weather and timely go at the ABC if the Government doesn’t bushfire alerts!!! Reporters who are Voters of all political persuasions value the ABC – something the Government increase funding – and increased funding is strong and not afraid to ask hard clearly what the people want. questions to shifty politicians.’ should consider as it plans the Federal Budget. The ABC’s performance during Read the full report here: https:// • ‘Priceless (but worth heaps more the bushfires and the COVID-19 crisis me.abcfriendsvic.org.au/wp-content/ than the slashed funding currently on was exemplary and came at great cost. uploads/2020/05/Roy-Morgan-ABC- offer).’ The ABC should be strengthened in the Friends-Community-Attitudes-to-ABC- Commenting on the survey, ABC Friends Budget, not further slashed.’ Survey-Report-May20-v1.pdf

Snook, Lachy Hulme and Tim Minchin, Vale it won the AWGIE for best miniseries screenplay for Jan Sardi, Mac Gudgeon Mark Ruse, and Grenville, and was nominated for eight AACTA Awards. Distinguished Their ABC drama Bed of Roses, which ran for three seasons, saw them receive the Producer Screen Producers of Australia’s producer of the year award. Their feature film credits shine.’ He loved to support and nurture include Paul Moloney’s Crackerjack, people’s creative journeys (including the comedy starring and written by mine). “Producer skills developed since Mick Molloy, which was the highest his formative years at Swinburne Film grossing Australian film of 2002, and and Television School in the 1980s were Tony Martin’s Bad Eggs. Last year Ruby distilled into an elixir of creative insight Photo by Annie Beach Entertainment and Robot Army produced and a wise problem-solving capacity that the second season of Rostered On, the I came to rely upon at every turn. “He was Ryan Chamley-created comedy starring By Don Groves, IF Magazine, 11 May equally at home providing incisive script Christiaan Van Vuuren, Bob Franklin and feedback, negotiating a contract or doing ark Ruse, who was partnered with Nick Boshier, for the Seven Network’s a Producer Offset final return.” MStephen Luby in Ruby Entertainment 7Mate. Ruby also made Internment, an for 20 years, died unexpectedly on Actress-writer Madeleine Dyer, who had online web series created by and starring Saturday. He was 64. In a career spanning been developing TV comedy Pacific Pippa Mills and Helena Ruse, Mark’s more than 30 years, Ruse produced Cove with Ruby Entertainment, producer daughter, a twisted exploration of the more than 250 hours of prime-time Jason Byrne and fellow writers Daniel world of internships. comedy and drama, more than 20 hours Mulvihill and Tony Rogers, said she was His final project with Luby, The Hunt: In of documentaries and 300 hours of live “absolutely gutted.” She praised Ruse as Search of Australia’s Big Cats, an hour- television. “so insightful, considered and gentle.” long doc which follows people who search “Mark was a true gentleman; incredibly Among his earliest credits, he produced for Australia’s wild big cats, premiered last talented, understated and generous, he 70 episodes of the comedy Fast Forward week on Discovery. Survivors include his gave many lucky people a leg up in the plus Full Frontal and Tonight Live for Artist wife Celine and children James, Jesse, industry,” Julie Marlow, screen industry Services. That was followed by the sitcom Helena and Sean. Luby concluded: “Mark consultant and former Film Victoria The Adventures of Lano and Woodley Ruse gave me, and so many others, so director, tells IF. “He was a joy to deal with for the UK’s Working Title, the BBC and much of himself. His passing is such a and will be sadly missed by so many.” ABC, the first two series of Kath & Kim great loss to the Australian screen industry, Luby said of his colleague and close and co-executive producer of ABC-TV’s to his friends and colleagues, and to his friend: “Mark was a man of incredible The Games. Ruby Entertainment’s most wife Celine and their four children and integrity, kindness, creativity, intelligence, acclaimed drama is The Secret River, the extended family. “But Mark’s spirit and dedication, work ethic, humour and ABC miniseries directed by Daina Reid, legacy will continue to permeate and goodness. “His express philosophy adapted from the Kate Grenville novel. inspire all of our lives and will never was to ‘enable other people’s talents to Starring Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Sarah be forgotten.”

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, NoPage 2 55 Hundreds facing the sack with ABC cuts

Lateline has gone, along with the state- While management says the unpredictable Mike Seccombe based versions of 7.30 on Fridays. The rostering is a temporary thing, that’s not The Saturday Paper, 9 May flagship radio current affairs programs The the experience of a lot of staff. One veteran World Today and PM have been halved reporter suggests it is being used as a in length. Staffing at political bureaus has means of pushing people out. “Senior been slashed. The list goes on, and the people are put on rosters that are very, taff members reveal the significant cuts keep coming. very difficult to work, constantly changing pressure they are under as the hours and jobs. I think it’s being done to public broadcaster continues to In March, the organisation’s managing S put people under pressure to leave the face budget cuts of more than $100 million director, David Anderson, was to organisation, rather than have payouts. a year. announce a five-year response to the latest round of funding cuts; it was expected job “It’s true to say that there is a constant fear It sounds like a marketing slogan, cuts would be in the hundreds, and major that you will be next, that your working almost a cliché: in times of national changes would be made to operations conditions will be made so difficult that it’s crisis, Australians turn to the national and programming. But the coronavirus unsustainable to stay on.” broadcaster. But over the past six months prompted a stay of execution. As one A number of other staff voiced similar or so, it has proved profoundly true. First senior ABC journalist puts it: “Obviously sentiments, although none would speak on came the bushfire crisis, when the ABC’s you don’t want to be telling people they’re the record for fear of the consequences. network of regional reporters distinguished losing their jobs on a Zoom conference.” One person prepared to speak openly was themselves not just in reporting the Anderson’s announcement has been Michael Ward, a former senior executive disaster as it unfolded but also warning put off until July, assuming the course of at the ABC, whose last position at the those in harm’s way. Then came the the virus permits. Says another senior organisation was general manager of current coronavirus crisis. What’s obvious employee: “Come July, they will say, in the numbers is that even as the news ‘You’ve all done very well. But now you’re consumption of a concerned and isolated going to be sacked.’” populace has gone up overall, and shifted One of the from lightweight to serious media, the Last month, program changes were raised great challenges ABC has stood out. Take the Nielsen at a meeting between Gaven Morris, Digital Content Ratings, which measure the ABC’s director of news, analysis for public online interaction. In December last year, and investigations, and representatives on the back of its bushfire coverage, the from the journalists’ union, the Media, enterprises in broadcaster surged into second place Entertainment and Arts Alliance. A general, and public with a “unique audience” of more than confidential briefing from that meeting, 10 million – passing Nine and just behind seen by The Saturday Paper, itemised broadcasters in news.com.au, which both fell. several staff concerns, including the particular, is the dropping of the Friday evening edition of By January, the ABC was No. 1 in the The Business, the decision to run “best of” country, with an audience of 11.2 million, tendency towards episodes of the arts program The Mix, and well ahead of the Murdoch news site. The the decision to turn the Saturday edition of commercialisation, most recent figures, for March, showed its the current affairs radio program AM into audience up to 15.2 million, a 53 per cent marketisation. a highlights package of the week’s stories. gain in a single month, and almost three The meeting was told that “changes to million ahead of its closest rival. In one rosters and shifts will continue to impact sense, this is unsurprising. Innumerable operations and planning. He was involved ongoing and casual staff … as a result of surveys over the decades have shown the in formulating ABC funding submissions. Covid-19 and changed staffing practices”. ABC to be the most trusted media outlet, Ward thinks Anderson’s five-year plan There is no “fat” left to cut, says a senior and one of the most trusted institutions in will see “200-odd redundancies”. ABC journalist. “All the cuts to ancillary the country. On another level, though, it These are desperate times within the costs around travel, stationery, the is remarkable that the ABC has done so national broadcaster. But then, they are outsourcing of certain functions – all those well during these particular crises – given in the media as a whole. The Covid-19 low-hanging fruits – have been made in that it has been working while grievously pandemic has worsened an already dire the past five years. “So, we’re looking at wounded. Since the current government advertising situation. Ad revenues have hard cuts to permanent staff. There is a came to power in 2014, the broadcaster dried up, and scores of publications have constant fear that you will be next, that has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in either suspended operations or gone out your working conditions will be made so funding and about 1000 jobs. of business entirely. difficult that it’s unsustainable to stay on.” 6 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 Last month, the Morrison government GetUp! which gets the numbers so badly announced it would provide some $100 wrong would be quoted uncritically.” million in relief to commercial TV, regional In March, however, Anderson gave very radio and newspapers. It also suspended similar figures to senate estimates: “To Australian content quotas for this year, summarise, the ABC will have to absorb and possibly next, a move that has cumulative budget cuts that amount to saved the networks money at the cost of $105.9 million per annum by the time we content producers, already hard hit by the reach the 2022 financial year … At this coronavirus shutdown. point, it is not possible to absorb further Into the breach stepped the ABC, with cuts without an impact on jobs and a $5 million Fresh Start Fund to support services.” Anderson was putting a positive the independent production industry. In spin on the situation: the corporation is CAN response to the shutd long past the point where funding cuts own of schools, it also expanded its could be “absorbed”. YOU educational broadcasts, run by teachers, Michael Ward says there are a handful of for the ABC Education portal and on ABC ways left to deal with budget cuts. “Among Me. Similarly, during the bushfires, the the ways in which they’ve been trying to HELP broadcaster spent $3 million beyond its deal with the budget issues is to reduce the normal budget to cover the crisis. salary bill by two means,” he says. “One is But there is no financial reprieve in sight. having less-experienced people who don’t In February, Anderson and ABC chair Ita cost so much and, secondly, to employ Buttrose went to Canberra to seek relief people through short-term contracts and ACT FRIENDS in from the government’s funding cuts. They casualisation.” It’s a tough environment EDEN-MONARO came away empty handed. On the only in which to do public interest journalism, on July 4? sitting day of federal parliament in April, in which would seemingly be the key role for response to a question from Labor, Prime a public broadcaster. But what measures WE MUST ENSURE THAT as success for the ABC has become Minister Scott Morrison ruled out restoring THE FUTURE OF THE increasingly amorphous. “One of the great any funding to the ABC. “The ABC is doing ABC IS AN ISSUE IN THE an excellent job,” he said, “and they’ll challenges for public enterprises in general, continue doing that job with the resources and public broadcasters in particular, is BY-ELECTION. that have been provided to them.” the tendency towards commercialisation, marketisation,” Ward says. “You end up If you can help on a polling There is history to this. Less than two having KPIs around clicks online and booth in any of the towns years ago, an overwhelming majority of the audience ratings.” He continues: “But what listed below, please send an Liberal Party’s federal council affirmed they that can’t tell you is how you’re contributing did not want a national broadcaster at all, email to Peter Lindenmayer at to a sense of national identity, how people [email protected] voting in favour of the ABC’s privatisation. are feeling connected, supported, engaged This is not the government’s official and informed. Yass, Murrumbateman, position, because they know such a policy Queanbeyan, Bungendore, “How are you making sure that every would be electoral poison, but it is part of Captains Flat, Bodalla, person in every corner of the country feels a deep antipathy towards the ABC. The Narooma, Bermagui, Tathra, that they’re getting the kind of media that view was summed up by former Prime Merimbula, Pambula, Eden, they should in a democracy? “That’s hard Minister John Howard and his then chief Nimmitabel, Bombala, to measure.” It may well be the case that of staff, Grahame Morris, who described Delegate, Bemboka, Bega, the broadcaster as “our enemy, talking to in the current situation, where people are Cobargo, Cooma, Berridale, our friends”. Howard slashed the ABC’s clearly clicking on quality, those quantitative Jindabyne, Thredbo Village, funding. Just before Tony Abbott won the measures mean something. But these are Perisher Village, Khancoban, 2013 election, he promised there would be exceptional circumstances. Ward’s last few Cabramurra, Adaminaby, no cuts to ABC funding. Then, in his first years at the ABC coincided with Michelle Tumbarumba, Talbingo, budget, $254 million was carved off. Guthrie’s fraught tenure as managing director and Justin Milne’s stint as chair. Batlow, Tumut, Adelong. This week GetUp! released a report In this period, he says, they were not after commissioned from the independent A beautiful part the world, quality clicks – just more clicks. It was not progressive think tank Per Capita. It from the coast to the Snowy good, and yet the culture survived. calculated the cumulative cuts to the Mountains, but ravaged by organisation – from 2014 to the end of the “The ABC is about being comprehensive, the recent bushfires, now current triennial funding deal in 2022 – at providing a range of services for both niche welcoming visitors – for the $783 million. The Daily Telegraph disputed audiences and mainstream audiences and day or the whole weekend! the figures, quoting Communications being distinctive. And it keeps proving it You can also donate to Minister Paul Fletcher at length. “It is really can do that and delivering,” Ward says. support the campaign at quite surprising,” Fletcher told the paper, “It just doesn’t seem to be able to abcfriends.org.au “that the report issued this week by Labor- convince the decision-makers in aligned activist groups Per Capita and Canberra.”

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 7 For our ABC ‘tragics’ a PDF book Political Q & A Question: What do these 22 ne of our Another snippet: In politicians have in common? wonderful family 1942, going to work on O • Eric Abetz, Chair of Foreign Affairs, of ABC Friends is Dawn his bike, Stan spoke Defence and Trade Legislation Committee Coleman, a lady in to a bloke examining a her late 80s who lives rough map on the side • Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, at the southern end of the Yass Road, trying Tourism and Investment of the Gold Coast. A to figure out where • Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, great-gran of five and Parliament House was. Skills, Small and Family Business counting, Dawn was Some time later it was • George Christensen, Chair of Joint born in Sydney but with discovered that he was Standing Committee on Trade and her Dad’s work they a spy for the enemy, Investment Growth moved to Canberra and that there had and Dawn remembers been a plot to blow up • Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance, buying vegetables, the parliament. Prime Leader of the Government in the Senate eggs and cream at Minister of the day • Trevor Evans, Assistant Minister for Blundell’s Cottage from Curtin had Stan sign Waste Management and Environmental Mrs Oldfield whose the Official Secrets Act, Management husband had died and so none of this was • Paul Fletcher, Minister for she otherwise had no known about till Dawn’s Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts income. So much book. • Josh Freydenberg, Treasurer largesse during the Who helped mitigate heavy rationing. the appalling acoustics • Alex Hawke, Assistant Defence Minister In later life Dawn has problem which became • Greg Hunt, Minister Assisting the Prime become an author on a apparent in the Concert Minister for the Public Service and Cabinet unique topic: her Dad. Hall of the Sydney • James, McGrath, Deputy Government For 50 years, Dawn’s Opera House before it Whip in the Senate father, Stan Bancroft, opened? Stan sourced Author and her Dad in the was a Radio Technician the acrylic rings or • Scott Morrison, Prime Minister 1960s, and Stan doing an with Telecom and the ‘clouds’ that have outside broadcast with • James Paterson, Chair of Finance and ABC, and his story is a been beneficial for Talbot Duckmanton as Public Administration Legislation Committee fascinating snap-shot many years. He tested announcer (pictures from of the early days of his brainchild with a • Christian Porter, Attorney General (Leader the author’s collection). the ABC up until his starting pistol. of the House) retirement in 1974. As a true loyal ABC • Stuart Robert, Minister for the National A veritable who’s who and what’s Friend, Dawn is kindly offering a fund- Disability Insurance Scheme what from the mid-20th Century: raiser to ABC Friends through sales • Scott Ryan, President, Liberal Party of scientists, world leaders, royalty, of her PDF book. For every book sold Australia secrets of The Lodge, authors (H G (they’re $30), author Dawn is kindly • Dean Smith, Government Whip in the Wells, no less), the moon landing and offering ABC Friends $10 per sale. It is Senate other space programmes: NASA, available only in electronic form. • Tony Smith, Speaker, Parliament of needing to boost fading ‘down under’ To Order: go to https://www.ebay.com. Australia transmission, asked the US President au/ choose ‘Non-fiction books’ in the who phoned the Australian PM, who search bar and type in ‘Adventures of • Amanda Stoker, Chair of Legal and called the ABC General Manager Talbot a Radio Technician’. After buying your Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Duckmanton, who made a direct call book, please email Angela (secretary_ • Dan Tehan, Minister for Education to Stan. Clever Stan rummaged in the [email protected]) who will • Alan Tudge, Minister for Population, Cities PMG’s workshops for wiring, gal-pipe advise Dawn to effect her generous and Urban Infrastructure and insulators, rigged up a device on donation to our cause. the ABC’s Williams Street office roof, • Tim Wilson, Chair, Standing Committee on Don’t we have some fabulous ABC hooked the cabling inside through Economics a window and bingo! Recording Friends? Answer: These politicians are all current commenced as the capsule was due Angela Williamson members of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) overhead, in what was temporarily Secretary and Membership Secretary or their affiliates, and Mark Buckley’s article renamed ‘ABC Apollo Studio’. NSW&ACT shows their destructive power and influence.

8 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 IPA is Wrecking Our Democracy

2003 John Howard hired a conservative terms. So they Mark Buckley think tank (the IPA) to investigate NGO think society in John Menadue – influence on some government agencies. is not meant Pearls and Irritations, The circularity of that sentence is dazzling. to be inclusive, 15 May 2020 “NGOs are becoming very influential today and caring for the – they sit on various committees and are least among us, but he history of the IPA is curious. Many seen to influence governments and big a contest. The Tim of the key players in its early years business. As global players they need to Wilsons and James Tare either still around, or their children be more transparent,” says Mike Nahan, Patersons of this are. Its ideas haven’t really evolved much, executive director of the IPA. The lack of world actually but if you want to characterise them, they self-awareness in that statement is also think that if we are crudely elitist, ideologically stunted, noteworthy. were all transported narrow minded, science-phobic, greedy “IPA is unfit to conduct the study due to its to an unruly savannah, and in most cases, fully imported. For a demonstrated bias and ongoing vilification crawling with sabre- charity which pays no tax, they have very of organisations that campaign for human toothed tigers and few clients in need. The only reason they rights, corporate social responsibility and snarling hyenas, that are of any interest to anyone is that they environmental protection,” Oxfam said in they would prosper. have captured the Federal Government, a media release. Who better than an NGO Reflecting on the by stealth, and their inane policies are the on the lunatic right (IPA) to investigate personnel, my money reason this country is so conspicuously the NGOs represented by such bodies is on the sabre-toothed tigers. IPA types under-achieving. There is not one thinker as Oxfam and Catholic Health Australia? are secretly longing for the Call of the Wild. of note amongst its membership. Some When dealing with the IPA one is assailed It is an adolescent fantasy, where if the of the current members appear to be the by the extreme seriousness with which going gets tough, the tough get going. offspring of former members; a sort of they promote their truly stupid, and truly Many of these intellectual giants wield real self-replicating supply of apparatchiks. If callous policies. They do not like welfare. power in our federal parliament. All I can you are searching for the reason behind They have a history of being supported say is, be afraid. Be very afraid! the diminishing sense of pride attached to by Big Tobacco. They want to sell the As John Roskam recently said: “To control being Australian, the IPA is to blame. ABC. They want to lower the tax rate a virus that as yet has infected 5000 These are the current members of the IPA, to companies even more, they want Australians, the response of doctors or their affiliates; Institute for Progress (AIP), us to abandon the Paris Agreement on and politicians to this serious health Australian Taxation Alliance (ATA), who Climate Change. They want the Racial crisis was to create also a humanitarian are also, sadly, members of the current Discrimination Act to remove the ban and an economic crisis. In the years Parliament: Abetz, Birmingham, Cash, on offensive speech. They want the Fair to come Australians will quite rightly Christensen, Cormann, Evans, Fletcher, Work Act repealed, which means the question whether there could have been Frydenberg, Hawke, Hunt, McGrath, ten minimum employment standards will a better way.” Sometimes you need to let Morrison, Paterson, Porter, Roberts, Ryan, disappear. Who knows, maybe we can libertarians speak freely. They do a better Stoker, Dean Smith, Tony Smith, Tehan, get to see adult Australians working for $7 job of exposing themselves as empty Tudge, and Tim Wilson. All part of the per hour, plus tips. What does this ragbag vessels than any commentator could. Global Atlas Network. That would be where of policies remind you of? Yes, Donald Lincoln Steffens studied corruption and we get the passion for no minimum wage, Trump’s America is the right answer. Of malfeasance in American states in the and no health care. Past members include course they also want to abolish Medicare, 1890s. His unwavering opinion was that it Abbott, Howard, and let us remember probably because it reminds them of was not the fault of the crooked politicians, our current PM is a current member. They Obamacare. I told you their policies were nor the business people who corrupted have been effectively bought by a handful imported. Considering most of the current them, but the apathy and the supine of robber barons, who pay no taxes, and Cabinet are members, how sincere can nature of the citizens. We need to become have no commitment to what was, twenty they be in governing for the good of all engaged, and if we’re not happy, turf them years ago, a democracy to be proud Australians? out! of. They gaslight the entire community, So why would Australia want such Mark Buckley is a writer from regional with double-speak which would make policies? The people in the IPA, and their Victoria with interests in politics, George Orwell blush. As an example, in affiliates, all think in Social Darwinism history and ethics in public life.

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 9 When will the hostility stop? I think ABC Friends and ABC supporters need to reach out to those LNP members and true Quentin conservatives who have the courage and decency to say that enough is enough. Dempster While News Corp outlets continue to distort AO and vilify anyone who strays from the hostile anti-ABC line, this is a hard ask to Australians during the bushfires and be sure. The forces out to undermine and COVID-19, surveys have confirmed that destroy the ABC are getting stronger, not the ABC is the most trusted of all our weaker, even though the ABC’s case as institutions. the nation’s bulwark in a disrupted media I reckon it is this marketplace success is stronger than ever. The ABC needs your which has caused such open resentment support now and in the very difficult months by the government and by lobbyists from and years to come. the commercial media. My informants ABC funding is shown to be increasing have told me of ministerial level resentment in the government’s response because at the fact that the ABC was exploiting its they are using the funding amounts they archives to broadcast education programs are providing after making the cuts, and during the lockdown to help parents t is now apparent that the ABC has they simply increase with inflation over to home school their children. Minister been unable to persuade the Morrison the forward estimates. In real terms, Fletcher has been actively misrepresenting government to provide respite from the ABC has experienced significant I the ABC’s funding predicament when destructive defunding which has prevailed funding cuts since the Coalition came to constituents of government members seek now for seven years. On 9 June the ABC government. Their “attack” rests entirely an explanation for the defunding. MD David Anderson foreshadowed cuts to on including transmission funding in the services requiring up to 200 redundancies The total funding figure the government ABC funding figures, which is not how their of staff to accommodate a $41million per is using in response to constituent portfolio budget statements account for year operational base funding reduction. complaints includes the ABC’s transmission versus operational funding. The ABC has run out of “efficiency transmission funding. This is misleading, Any decent independent journalist would savings” since the imposition of what was as transmission is always assessed put this to bed very quickly but the called an indexation “pause” to be applied separately from operational funding. impartial coverage we could once have from July 2018. The corporation had Transmission is a fixed cost that goes to expected from the former Fairfax papers to find extra resources to coverage the Broadcast Australia, privatised by then is no longer there. Apart from Guardian 2019-2020 bushfires and the COVID-19 Minister Richard Alston during the Howard Australia and perhaps The New Daily, it pandemic which added to the budgetary years. News Corp always misrepresents will be difficult to get attention to this – and crisis. While the operational budget was this figure in its articles seeking to vilify the Michelle Rowland, Shadow Minister for no longer benefiting from annual inflation ABC as being generously funded. ABC Communications, has been disappointingly adjustments, Communications Minister operational base funding covers radio, TV quiet about it too. We need to find LNP Paul Fletcher (Liberal, Bradfield) formally and online programming and broadcast MPs at state and federal level who have the requested the ABC Board to apply a wage operations excluding transmission. The courage to publicly support adequate ABC freeze and over-ride the ABC Enterprise calculations in a recent Per Capita audit funding. Any ideas? We are now dealing Bargain Agreement (EBA) with staff. To are accurate and sourced by the Minister’s with a very hostile minister who, according apply any wage freeze as its contribution own portfolio budget statements and to my informants, plays dirty by having to COVID-19 overall Commonwealth from the ABC’s ANAO audited annual his office leak adversely about the ABC public sector cost savings, the ABC would reports. There were no errors as Minister to News/Nine e.g. sell ABC Ultimo HQ. have to seek a Fair Work Commission Fletcher asserted. The Ministerial The Minister apparently did not appreciate administered and agreed variation to the misrepresentation arises because he the ABC going out of its way to schedule EBA. does not take into account the cumulative education programs from its archive during defunding since 2013. the lockdown to help parents with kids at ABC staff are expecting the program and home and resents the fact that the ABC is jobs cuts to affect all areas of output, The calculations in my report are accurate, now an industry leader in online news. including regional services. This at a and were made by referencing the time of the wholesale closure or regional Minister’s and his predecessor’s own The Pacific initiative by the government and community newspapers in Australia portfolio budget statements, evidence on ($17m to Commercial TV) gives three from both COVID-19 lockdowns and Hansard from Senate Estimates hearings years of Aussie program supply to the collapse of the domestic media’s and the ABC’s annual reports. All can be Pacific broadcasters. It is laughable in advertising revenues. It is significant to checked against the Government’s own a patronising/colonial sense. China is note that the government’s hostility to the publicly available budget statements. building roads, airstrips and wharves ABC has come at a time when ABC News Further, they align closely with calculations throughout the Pacific islands. We’re giving online is now the clear media industry undertaken by Michael Ward at the them Home and Away and Neighbours. leader, with audiences far above those University of Sydney (published in The Quentin Dempster is an ABC Alumnus of News Corp and Nine Entertainment. Conversation last year), and with the and former ABC presenter of the After the ABC’s heroic efforts to inform ABC’s own published statements. 7.30 Report.

10 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 Union says government proposal for ABC wage freeze threatens broadcaster’s independence.

Fletcher’s warning shot follows the were “none of the government’s business” Katharine Murphy government’s decision in early April to defer and any variation of the current enterprise Guardian Australia, 20 May general wage increases for commonwealth agreement was a matter for ABC public servants for six months. The management and the unions, not the public service commissioner followed up government. that directive by writing to all non-public ABC Managing Director, David Anderson, Anderson’s email to all staff echoes service agencies – including the ABC – tells staff he will take a 5% pay cut due to Murphy’s point about independence, informing them the government expected budgetary pressures. but it does not reveal which way the them to adopt the same practice. The organisation will jump on the wage The journalists’ union has blasted the communications minister told Anderson in freeze for all employees. “Unlike the Morrison government for exerting pressure this week’s letter the ABC embarking on a Australian Public Service, the ABC does on the ABC to embark on a six-month six-month wage pause would not only be not have the ability to unilaterally alter the wage freeze, declaring the intervention by consistent with the practice being applied working conditions of its employees,” the communications minister, Paul Fletcher, across government agencies during the Anderson’s email to staff says. He says threatens the national broadcaster’s Covid-19 pandemic, it would also be a the determination made for public sector independence. The blast from the Media, “highly appropriate gesture of solidarity” staff during Covid-19 does not apply to the Entertainment and Arts Alliance comes with journalists in commercial media who ABC and “the independence of the ABC as Guardian Australia has learned the are facing pay cuts and the closure of their from government direction is set out in national broadcaster’s managing director, organisations because of a precipitous dive the ABC Act”. But Anderson also says the David Anderson, told a staff meeting earlier in advertising revenue. relevant legislation requires the ABC to give this week senior executives would forgo But Paul Murphy, the chief executive consideration to any policy proposed by their bonuses and “at-risk” payments this of the MEAA, declared on Wednesday the minister in relation to the administration financial year because of the Covid-19 that Fletcher had engaged in overreach. of the ABC, and he says “this consideration crisis. Murphy said the warning about the pay will be given. I don’t believe this proposal Anderson wrote to all ABC staff on freeze was “just another shot in the culture in any way reflects negatively on the hard Wednesday evening confirming that was wars” and indicative of the Coalition’s work of all of you during this period, or his position, and also revealing that he “unhealthy obsession with the ABC”. during the bushfires last summer, and the had requested his salary be reduced Murphy said the intervention by the contribution the ABC continues to make to by 5% in light of the pandemic and the communications minister turned this “into the community every day. We will provide budgetary pressure on the organisation. an issue of ABC independence”. He said you an update on this matter after “The ABC decided in April that it was not pay outcomes at the national broadcaster further consideration.” appropriate in the current environment to pay bonuses to senior executives or any salary at-risk payments this financial year, and as managing director, I declined the 2% increase that would have been paid to me pursuant to the Remuneration Tribunal determination this July,” Anderson’s email said. “I also requested (and had approved) that my salary be reduced by 5% from April until the end of September. The savings realised from these measures, and other reductions to expenditure this financial year, have contributed to content initiatives during the global pandemic.” Guardian Australia revealed on Wednesday that Fletcher wrote to Anderson this week flagging his expectation that the organisation would defer a 2% increase for all employees scheduled to take effect in October under the ABC’s enterprise agreement.

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 11 Submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements

96.1% of them said that ABC staff with • National WiFi coverage Sue Pinnock local knowledge was important to them. President, ABC Friends SA/NT • Better mobile phone towers not reliant on and National Committee 98.5% of them said that it was mains power Member important to them that their local ABC And with regard to the ABC’s regional outlet remain open and well-staffed. centres At the end of April 2020, ABC Friends 95% of them agreed there was • More regional ABC offices staffed with National made a submission to the Royal a need for a national plan of local journalists Commission into National Natural Disaster additional essential communications • More funding for regional ABC offices Arrangements. This is an abridged infrastructure. version. Introductory points made in the Extending ABC emergency broadcasts to submission included: Respondents to the survey (often reliant on commercial network frequencies was also mobile phones and the internet) vividly told suggested. • The intensity and duration of the 2019- of the many problems they had accessing What is abundantly clear, from the 2020 bushfire season was predicted by emergency information. the Garnaut Climate Change Review of experience of the dreadful 2019- 2008. Response to the problem 2020 bushfire season, is that multiple channels of communication have to • The recent devastating bushfire of failure of emergency be placed within the infrastructure and season attests to the ABC’s position communication during the emergency broadcasting network. If one as Australia’s pre-eminent emergency bushfires communication pathway fails, then another broadcaster. The ABC made 935 pathway is there to be used. However, hot emergency broadcasts this financial year During dangerous bushfire situations, air rises which makes fires climb to the compared to 371 in 2018-19 and 256 in mobile service outages can arise for highest point, which is where towers for 2017-18. several reasons. However, even with a signal, at times of high demand during mobile phones, wireless NBN, radio (except • ABC emergency broadcasts continued the catastrophe, the network can become AM) and two-way radio get the maximum in the face of ongoing funding cuts and congested due to the high volume coverage. Fires knock out transmission with no additional funding to cover the of mobile phone traffic experienced, towers directly or their energy supplies. resources which were poured into the exceeding the available network capacity. effort. People were often urged to leave affected A Possible Solution • While other broadcasting organisations areas early to avoid being stuck in mobile There is one transmission form that and other media have an important black spots. A range of priority areas for could be considered alongside DAB+ role, it is clear that the vast majority of more robust emergency communication radio to provide a reliable emergency Australians trust and depend on the were suggested by respondents to the communication system. A particularly ABC in times of crisis, and no other survey. These included: cogent plan for national emergency organisation comes close to meeting Regional radio and communications communication has been put forward by this need. infrastructure upgrades Mr. Alan Hughes, retired ABC trainer of technical officers and operators in Western • Fix any radio reception blackspots in Australia. Mr. Hughes describes the regions for emergency radio broadcasts serious impact that fires have on critical • Fireproofing transmission towers communications equipment throughout • Commitments to maintaining the vital populated areas of Australia, and he AM network also provides real world solutions to this • Dedicated radio spectrum dangerous situation that Australians will encounter again. It takes into account • Mirrored ABC and emergency websites Australia’s huge geographical distances and ABC Friends National Bushfire in case of problems it incorporates the merits that the digital Survey • Battery powered portable radio and form of SW (Shortwave) radio, DRM (Digital On 13 January via Facebook and email, WiFi towers available to be deployed if Radio Mondiale) has to offer. infrastructure is lost through our membership and supporter These superimposed maps showed the base, ABC Friends National delivered • Communications infrastructure such Australian fire hot spots, as of 7 January a survey investigating access to ABC as landlines and internet access put 2020, during the 2019-2020 bushfire emergency broadcasts during the underground season. bushfires. 712 people responded. • Satellite driven radio, mobile phone and Mr. Hughes argues that, as AM and FM 91.1% of them said that the ABC local internet radio are incapable of providing a full emergency broadcasts were important • Battery powered mobile reception and Emergency Warning System (EWS), a to them during the crisis. WiFi hotspots linked to satellites solution that can provide reliable emergency

12 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 broadcasts untouched, but cause an 2017. The EWS can also be broadcast by EWS capable radio in the affected area to all existing ABC DAB+ digital transmitters provide a range of emergency advice. The in capital cities; the receiver will select the best option, Mr. Hughes says, is to install most reliable signal automatically. a high power High Frequency (SW) DRM transmitter in the centre of Australia. This In Conclusion location has only very low bush, so the fire The imperative to have a reliable and risk is minimal, it is not in a cyclone zone accessible emergency broadcasting and is as far away as possible from the system operating via robust infrastructure warnings anywhere in Australia, and coast to negate threats from tsunamis or has never been more urgent. ABC Friends the implementation of an EWS across terrorism. National calls for a National Emergency Australia, would go a long way towards The transmission mode of this signal Communication Plan to be investigated, keeping Australia’s scattered population is not affected by geography and can articulated, costed and enacted. aware of impending dangers. be strong enough to cover the whole Whatever the composition of the group of Such a solution could be achieved if the country. As it is not economic to have organisations put in place to do this, the ABC decides to broadcast Emergency this transmitter unused most of the time, ABC should be involved. The Australian Warning System signals on all of their it could transmit the live-to-air programs public rightly places great faith in the existing DAB+ transmitters in capital on ABC NewsRadio and ABC Grandstand expertise and commitment of the ABC as cities as well as rolling out high frequency throughout Australia when not required for Australia’s Emergency Broadcaster. (HF) DRM radio from central Australia to emergency situations. As well as reliable cover the whole of Australia. Emergency emergency communication when needed, A National Emergency Communication services are able to specify the latitude there would be the bonus of live radio Plan, incorporating ABC Emergency and longitude of the corners of the area to being provided to the 470,000 people Broadcasting expertise, is a key receive the warnings, so the Emergency who live in remote Australia when they are element to improving response, Warning System signals will automatically mobile. They lost this service when the resilience and adaptation to inform just that area. This will leave regular ABC’s SW service was ceased in January changing climatic conditions.

Extract from ABC Alumni Newsletter Staff morale Most ABC staff have been working No 9, May 25 under highly stressful conditions to provide these services. Rural staff ABC kicks goals worked long hours to cover the Public support bushfires; since the pandemic, IT The unprecedented summer bushfires has scrambled to equip most staff In times of crisis, the Australian public dramatically highlighted the essential to work from home; while foreign knows where to turn. By the start of the service that the ABC provides to the correspondents have provided year, ABC Online had shot to first place nation. Under difficult circumstances, excellent coverage from overseas of the among digital services, with an audience local ABC staff worked around the clock unfolding tragedy. Yet all these services of 11.2 million. In March this increased by to provide emergency information to are made by a much-diminished nearly half again to 15.2 million, eclipsing communities under attack, an effort that workforce which has the spectre of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp by nearly was widely praised by the public at large. further significant job cuts hanging over three million. Radio and TV ratings have The ABC has again risen to the challenge it. While the Managing Director David also surged. People have voted with their with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Anderson has delayed retrenchments screens. It’s provided in-depth reporting of the until July, they must come. At least 200 crisis and launched new services to help All this for around 11 cents a day (on a jobs, and maybe more, will have to go people deal with the many hardships per capita basis), one of the lowest-cost, in 2020. This will mean an inevitable the coronavirus has caused. Dr Norman most efficient public broadcasters in the hollowing out of program quality. Swan has provided fearless, accurate world. Whilst not a direct comparison, Programs have already been thinned health information; iview services have it’s worth considering that for about a as a result of previous budget cuts, been greatly expanded to entertain twentieth of the cost of a subscription to with State-based services and News those locked down at home; news and any of the big metropolitan newspapers, bulletins reduced, more repeats, current affairs programs have provided the ABC provides 24-hour access to less travel, and the replacement of special insights into the pandemic here digital online, podcasts, iview, four TV experienced staff with much lower paid and abroad; ABC education programs networks and five radio networks fed younger workers who unfortunately are have been expanded to help parents from hundreds of transmitters across left without sufficient guidance. with home schooling; and the ABC has the country, all with original Australian launched a $5 million fund to support content from staff based throughout Reprinted with permission of the the struggling independent production Australia and the world – it’s great value Directors & Admin Team, ABC sector. for money! Alumni Limited.

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 13 Close to the Bone What it takes to tell Australian stories

in accounts of the specific event but also Mike Brown in conversation with Sue Pinnock connecting with other stories of violence Ken McKenzie, esteemed elder of President, ABC Friends SA/NT and trauma in the early decades of Adnyamathanha and Kuyani descent. and National Committee European invasion. Member Almost 170 years later, descendants and filmmaker. He has directed over This could be the description of of James Brown’s family reach out to 100 social history documentary films, how people, working in the Arts and descendants of the Aboriginal people most of which present stories from Entertainment and who cannot access who may have been involved in these rural and remote Australia. Some of job keeper payments, are currently historic events. How can the scars of the films he has produced have been living under Covid-19 conditions. past atrocities be healed through the for long term exhibition in museums However, it is in fact the title of a half act of truth telling? One usually thinks across Australia. Jared and Malcom, hour documentary film for broadcast of the director and actors who work on with others, establish a project reference on ABC TV’s Compass program to be location and editors who work in post- group facilitated by the South Australian screened in 2021. production on a project like this, so it was Museum. They also raise initial South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) funds The synopsis of “Close to the Bone”, quite an eye-opener to learn about the for project development. set in South Australia, follows. incredible amount of work that goes into the planning, funding and eventual fruition • Together with Mike Brown and others, In September 1852, near Quorn in the of a project like this, one that tells one of Jared and Malcolm research and shoot Flinders Ranges, some Aboriginal people our own Australian stories. The sequence material for a demonstration reel to be took the life of a young shepherd, James of events goes like this, some of which are used to ‘sell’ the project. Most critically, Brown. The brutal, ritualistic nature of the quite fortuitous. initial filming involves Aboriginal people murder suggests that Brown was killed in in the Flinders Ranges with deep punishment for sexual crimes committed • In the mid-1980s, Mike Brown, a family knowledge of historic events against Aboriginal women. The Aboriginal descendant of James Brown’s family, on the pastoral frontier. Right from group also took a flock of sheep and fled discovers a traumatic chapter in his the beginning, the project is working west towards Lake Torrens. A party of family history and becomes haunted to encourage cross-cultural dialogue. police and European settlers pursued the by this knowledge. Thirty years later, (September 2019). Aboriginal group and eventually came Mike happens to be introduced to across their camp at a place called Bluff writer and Nukunu man, Jared Thomas, • Malcolm approaches ABC TV and Point. A disputed number of Aboriginal by Rojmahan Ghandi, grandson of receives a ‘Letter of Intent’ to screen in people were killed in reprisal for the Mahatma Ghandi. Jared had previously the Compass program slot. murder. These events were documented at met Rojmahan at the Goa Literature • Jared secures an agreement with the SA the time through court records, newspaper Festival. Museum to support the project, and also articles and personal letters. Amongst • Jared is an author of young adult fiction, connections to Adelaide University for Aboriginal people across the region the a playwright and currently a curator at an ARC Discovery Project. This scheme story has been passed down through the Museum of South Australia. Malcolm offers funding for research projects successive generations, resonating both McKinnon is an artist, writer, director undertaken by teams or individual

14 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 researchers, in this case involving a financial and creative) and gives an 30 minutes of television programming. It project looking at frontier conflicts indicative level of % of cash funding. is hoped that main filming will occur later between settlers and Aboriginal people. Screen Australia and the SA Film in 2020 (perhaps September / October), • Malcolm, as Co-producer and Director Corporation are interested. Apart from with post-production in early 2021. The of the project, needs an Executive meeting eligibility criteria, a project Compass broadcast is slated for July 2021, Producer to take the project further and MUST have a transmission partner (the coinciding with NAIDOC Week. enlists Margot Phillipson. Margot has 40 ABC for this project) and a confirmed The film will also be post-produced years of experience as a writer, producer Finance plan before submitting for and adapted for exhibition at the South and executive producer of television funding. Margot draws up a Finance Australian Museum and other venues, and programs. plan which shows the full costs of the for use as an advocacy and education project and where the anticipated money • Margot creates a draft budget for resource in various contexts. What an is coming from. This shows that the the project made up of costs for amazing set of collaborations! The project is Adelaide University and the SA Museum Development, Production (Crew, Talent, being undertaken as a partnership between are committing ‘in kind’ resources Travel, Equipment, Insurance), Post the SA Museum and film production and the expected inputs from Screen Production (Edit, Music/Graphics, Reckless Eye Pty Ltd, with support from Australia and the SA Film Corporation. Delivery) and Indirect Expenses (Legal Reconciliation SA, the SA History Trust and It also shows a cash shortfall which and Business expenses). the University of Adelaide. must be addressed before approaching • Margot goes back to Compass to government funding agencies. Whilst those in the film and television discuss a ‘confirmed transmission’, industry might be temporarily confined to • Through Jared, a link to Reconciliation not an ‘Intent’, as a confirmation of isolation during Covid-19, the Australian SA is made as a point to collect the broadcast partner is needed to be able Communications and Media Authority remaining cash shortfall. The search for to access Government film funding (ACMA) has temporarily suspended content the final amount of cash is on. agencies. quotas in Australian drama, Australian • Once the finance plan is fully in • Compass can’t provide funding as documentary, and Children’s and Preschool place, application will be made to a co-producer as they don’t have a programming for commercial-free to-air and the Government funding bodies. This budget for external commissions. subscription television broadcasters until 31 involves written confirmation of ‘in On the basis of the reputation of the December 2020 (https://www.google.com/ kind’ resources obtained from Adelaide Producer and Executive Producer, and amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/media/2020/ University and the SA Museum, a the content and approach planned for apr/15/local-content-quotas-suspended- detailed budget and a detailed proposal “Close to the Bone”, Compass, through in-54m-package-for-australias-coronavirus- for production. ABC Acquisitions, contracts to buy the hit-media). finished program, sight unseen. The • Contracts and legal documents will be In spite of Covid-19 restrictions, the on- ABC becomes the transmission partner. signed, and the production phase can going planning and creation of projects fully commence. (March 2020). like “Close to the Bone” are vital to tell • Margot contacts Government Film However, at this point in time (13 May), Australian stories, help us to understand Funding Agencies: Screen Australia, the project is still searching for the cash ourselves and continue the development the SA Film Corporation, and Film short fall to be filled before production will of a creative and vibrant local production Victoria about the project to seek actually start. industry. In the planning of “Close to their fundamental support. This initial All this has to happen before filming and the Bone”, the ABC is fundamental as discussion covers eligibility (both post production can take place to ensure confirmed transmission (broadcast) partner.

Well Done ABC!

ABC Kids’ Bluey Scoops all the pre-school category, and was the Major Book and TV Awards only Australian nominee for any of this year’s children’s awards. Bluey, made by Bluey: The Beach - has beaten all the Brisbane-based Ludo Studio, is the most- books in the adult section to win Australian watched show in the history of ABC iview. Book Industry Awards’ top prize, Book of the Year 2020. It is first children’s picture In 2019 Bluey won a Logie Award for book to receive this honour Most Outstanding Children’s Program, in addition to an AACTA Award, two awards It’s not Bluey’s only win this year: in from Screen Producers Australia, and April, Australia’s favourite cartoon blue an International Emmy Kids Award. It heeler was again recognised, with the was also nominated for a Prix Jeunesse show winning an International Emmy International Award and APRA Kids Award. Bluey was the winner in Screen Music Award.

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 15 Cutting the ABC cuts public trust, a cost no democracy can afford

means some towns and regions have goes. They both have important roles in Andrea Carson, no original sources of news other than democracies, sometimes at the expense The Conversation, the ABC. Without it, they lose their voice of one another. Apart from the media’s 10 June altogether. These ABC cuts come on important functions such as emergency the back of News Corp closing many of broadcasting and informing the public, its regional mastheads and converting a well-functioning democracy depends hile Australians are singing the others to online-only. These moves raise on the public being able to monitor its praises of the front-line workers concerns about issues of access to representatives and on the state accepting during the COVID-19 crisis, there W local news for some citizens such as the criticism of its own exercise of power. is a forgotten front line that has also made elderly and those with poor digital access. This is its watchdog function, and to personal sacrifices to help us get through But it is also a threat to our democracy. be effective it requires a trusted and the pandemic: ABC journalists. From radio Free and diverse media are central to a independent media. Yet, while the ABC is producers to TV presenters to technicians healthy democracy by providing citizens still Australia’s most trusted media outlet, who get up before dawn to bring us the with reliable information in order to make public trust has been steadily falling since news, ABC staff have been bringing us the informed choices, including at the ballot the budget cuts this decade. In other facts about the global crisis at a time when box when voters decide who will represent words, if you keep cutting the fat and hit misinformation and disinformation are rife them. the bone, the public will start to notice and and dangerous. Norman Swan’s highly lose trust in its quality. utilised podcast Coronacast is just one example of trusted ABC information during The ABC’s most trusted programming, the pandemic. Less visible is the emotional TV news and current affairs has been toll on ABC staff of the relentless work in falling steadily from a high of 74% in bringing us our stories about job losses, 2012 to a low of 60% since the budget health concerns, social isolation and fragile ... trust in cuts. The other notable fall is trust in local mental health during the coronavirus newspapers, from 62% to below 50% professional since the “news desert” concerns have pandemic. journalists has been realised with mass closures of local As one ABC producer told me: ‘Every papers. This is a problem for democracy, day during the lockdowns were sad been ebbed away particularly when the rise of fake news stories that wear you down and leave by President in the digital age is causing concern you feeling hopeless’. We forget many of for most Australians (65%) about what these workers went into the pandemic Donald Trump’s is fact and what is not. Yet, when we already tired and emotionally drained weaponisation of need to know information because it is after forgoing holidays to report on the important to our health – such as during summer’s catastrophic bushfires across the terms “fake the COVID-19 pandemic or bushfires multiple states. The fires killed 34 people, news” and “lame – quality outlets have been enjoying a destroyed more than 3,500 homes and spike in their audience numbers. Our ruined the lives of many. Yet, rather than stream media” survey work has also shown Australians’ forget these victims, ABC reporters against them. trust in professional journalists has been continue to provide updates on how elevated during this period (68%). It’s communities are rebuilding after losing so notably higher than in the US (57%) where much in the fires. trust in professional journalists has been Despite all of this, the federal government ebbed away by President Donald Trump’s has offered no reprieve to prevent the axing weaponisation of the terms “fake news” and “lame stream media” against them. of about 250 ABC jobs to meet an A$41 The refusal of the Coalition government to million budget shortfall of the Coalition’s step in and reverse the A$84 million lost in As the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal own making. The ABC’s managing the 2018 budget cuts to the broadcaster Commission heard again and again, director, David Anderson, announced – when indexing of the triennial funding if it were not for the ABC emergency the job cuts, some voluntary and some agreement was frozen – can only weaken broadcasting, many communities would not, this week. The cuts will affect news, its public service. Some might argue this have not been warned of approaching entertainment and regional divisions of the is exactly what the government wants. fires. If the ABC is there to inform us to national media organisation. This should Since 2014, when Tony Abbott was prime save lives, who will save the ABC? be of grave concern for all Australians, minister, the ABC has lost A$783 million Andrea Carson receives funding from because research shows we have local in funding, including the A$84 million Australian Research Council. She was news “deserts” emerging across the cut in 2018. Politicians and journalists also an ABC radio and TV producer nation, just as in the United States. This are strange bedfellows, as the saying from 2005-2010

16 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 FACT CHECK From the Leader of Opposition, Anthony Albanese, MP Holding Wednesday, 29 April 2020 2:19 PM Thank you to the ABC Public Figures It’s been a hard few months for Australia. From the bushfire crisis in Accountable December to the coronavirus pandemic today, all of us have been tested.

It hasn’t been easy – but take a moment to think about how much harder he ABC it all would have been without our ABC. Fact Check During the coronavirus pandemic, the ABC has been there for us – Tunit was broadcasting reliable health advice, combatting misinformation, and axed in the wake keeping our regional communities informed of Coalition While children have been home from school, the ABC has been working budget cuts in alongside our remarkable teachers to keep them learning through vital 2016, but this educational programming. vital service was resurrected in 2017 as a co-production between the RMIT and the And none of us will ever forget the role that the ABC played during the ABC. Presenter John Barron, who is also bushfire crisis. Their tireless reporting and emergency broadcasting a host of the Drum and Planet America, is literally saved lives. the public face of the team. In 2014 ABC So I’m saying thank you to the ABC – and I want your help to send a Books published ‘Is That a Fact?’, by John big message of support to the ABC and everyone who works there. Barron and the Fact Checkers, which Over the past few months, we’ve all been reminded why we need to invited readers to ‘get the facts, not the have a strong, independent ABC – always. I won’t stop fighting to spin’ in their analysis of 100 claims. support the ABC and I hope I can count on your support every step of Here is the response to the PROMISE ‘No the way. cuts to the ABC of SBS’. In a 2014 media Stay healthy. Stay safe. release the former ABC director Mark Scott said “The Government gave repeated Anthony Albanese commitments before and after the election Labor Leader that funding for the corporation would be maintained.” Verdict: BROKEN. The ABC’s Fact Checking Unit (once misheard as ‘the Fat Chicken Unit’) began in 2012 and reported that in well over 200 fact checks they hadn’t had to change a single one of their verdicts, although Barron thought ‘’you might be surprised at the push back we get from senior political figures, ministers and shadow ministers from all sides who have made angry phone calls, sent terse emails and asked pointed questions in parliament about our work. But despite the indignation and the occasional claims of bias by the left and right, we stand by everything we’ve published. Conversely, if we are ever wrong, we will say so openly and unambiguously.’’ What would we do without such ‘living treasures’ as Fact Check and Media Watch researchers and their presenters, John Barron and Paul Barry? Is That a Fact? Is available for $12.99 on Kindle or $20.60 for a hard copy from Amazon.com.au Book note by Diana Wyndham

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 17 service, primarily The Friends’ for immediate use on The Palace tote bags. Also in the pipeline are Shop a 2021 calendar highlighting the Letters role of the ABC as an essential service, riends can look forward to an artwork to promote our Defend Media Fexciting new range of merchandise Freedom Campaign, fridge magnets, Extract from a in coming months as we replace and Media Release key rings, caps, professional artwork for augment stocks and introduce new our letterhead, general-purpose cards, issued by items. The critical role of the ABC during Christmas cards, including an email card Professor Jenny the bushfires and Covid-19 crisis will be that might include a gift donation facility, Hocking, 30 May reflected in bright new designs focusing a promotional postcard / drawcard, on the ABC as an essential service. promotional bookmarks and a new lapel A working group led by Kate Durkin, with pin. he High Court of Australia has Bobbie Mackley, Sue Pinnock and Gia There have also been significant Tdelivered a stunning decision in the Metherell, considered every suggestion improvements to the website page, with Palace letters case yesterday, finding gathered over the past year from National work on this now completed by Scott in our favour that the Palace letters are Committee and state members. Some Sanders and Phil Evans. You can see the NOT ‘personal’ as the National Archives suggestions were set aside on the results at abcfriends.myshopify.com has claimed for decades. In an emphatic grounds of environmental sustainability, 6:1 decision the High Court found that but the group has come up with a range Finally, uniform branding will see all the Palace letters are Commonwealth of quality items it believes will appeal to references to the page change to The records and must be released under Friends and others as campaign material Friends’ Shop, a friendly name for a the terms of the Archives Act. This and gifts. With graphic designer Fiona friendly place to shop. means the letters are no longer under Clark, the group worked on strong Gia Metherell the Queen’s embargo and I have called messaging around the campaign to Committee Member, ABC Friends on the National Archives to immediately recognise the ABC as an essential NSW&ACT release all 211 letters in recognition of the High Court’s compelling decision. This is a wonderful victory for transparency, accountability and, most importantly, for knowing the full story of the dismissal of the Whitlam government. It also reasserts Australian law and control over our archival documents previously determined by the wishes of the Queen. In their joint judgment Chief Justice Kiefel and Justices Bell, Gageler and Keane argued that they could not see how the Palace letters could be described, however “loosely”, as “private or personal records of the Governor-General”. Justices Gordon and Edelman in separate judgments also found in my favour. The High Court also ordered the director-general of the National Archives, David Fricker, to reconsider my request for access to the letters which it had previously denied by incorrectly categorising the letters as ‘personal’. … The National Archives released a statement in response to the decision stating that it is a ‘pro- disclosure’ organisation which operates on the basis of making records publicly available “unless there is a specific and compelling need to withhold it”. As Professor Anne Twomey pointed out, ‘It will be interesting to see what “compelling” needs it might identify’.

18 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 The ABC’s Foreign Correspondents

Some of the ABC Correspondents (Left to Right) Eric Campbell, Sally Sara, Natalia Whiting (PNG), Bill Birtles (China), Emma Alberici, Adam Harvey (Middle East), James Glenday (North America).

interviews in various ways, go to events cannot be easily verified. The journalist Sue Pinnock and things happening in the region. A cannot get a “feel” for what is happening; President, ABC Friends SA/NT local producer will help journalists with “getting this feel” for a story is vitally and National Committee Member translation and logistics. Journalists important. often have to film everything themselves The 2014 changes made some bureaux and take photos. For 7.30 or Foreign ach week, whilst the current season Video-Journalist (VJ) bureaux. This means Correspondent pieces, journalists usually is running, the ABC’s television the journalist shoots, edits and often are able to have or hire a dedicated program Foreign Correspondent presents his or her own video material. E cameraman. The journalist then writes provides the Australian public with Some bureaux became “super bureaux” it all up for Radio News, radio current invaluable information and insights about with multiple journalists and one or two affairs (AM, The World Today, PM), TV what is happening elsewhere across the cameramen (e.g. Jakarta, Beijing, London, News, 7.30 and ABC News Online and globe. Washington DC). Moscow was closed and for Foreign Correspondent if on a specific Bangkok, Tokyo, and Jerusalem became Throughout the world, the ABC has 17 assignment for that program. Journalists VJ bureaux. PNG already was a VJ international posts/bureaux across which tend to edit their own radio and TV News bureau. A new bureau with the Jerusalem 15 journalists are currently employed. pieces. 7.30 and Foreign Correspondent cameraman got opened in Beirut. So Journalists primarily work for ABC News have their own editors. some places got more resources and providing content to a plethora of ABC some were pared down. Overall, it was media platforms TV (7.30, Australian a reduction in resources, designed to Story), radio, online and on social media save money while maintaining coverage and fulfilling specific assignments for Now the COVID-19 as much as possible. So now some Foreign Correspondent’s programs. With pandemic adds journalists have to be “one man/one the risks associated with the COVID- 19 another layer to the woman bands” fulfilling most of the roles pandemic the ABC has decided to put a required to get out a story. Working in travel ban on its overseas correspondents. already complex such isolation can be quite demoralising. This means that the current season of role of the foreign It takes great dedication and motivation Foreign Correspondent will be completed working under these conditions especially but a lot of the stories which involved travel correspondent. when amazing stories may not get a have been changed to ones done remotely. run. Now the COVID-19 pandemic adds ABC Chair, Ita Buttrose said “we’ve told Before 2014, international coverage was another layer to the already complex role our international people they can’t fly being slowly cut back but funding cuts of the foreign correspondent. anywhere in the interests of their health to the ABC, in 2014, really had a dire and welfare”. Foreign Correspondent will effect. Previously, there tended to be be completing its full season this year. more personnel support and roles were STOP PRESS “There is no suggestion of the program separated (e.g. TV and radio reporters). being cancelled,” an ABC spokeswoman There were dedicated cameramen said. “We’re talking to all our international and drivers as well as local producers. correspondents about keeping them safe Journalists used to travel a lot. Technology Former Foreign in their posts or facilitating getting them has made things somewhat easier but it Correspondent back home temporarily.” does not balance out the loss of personnel Sean Dorney has Foreign correspondents work tirelessly to nor the reduction in money available to been awarded a tell international stories. It is worthwhile travel to where a story is happening. A lot very well-deserved understanding how they work under of work is done over the phone. When a AO in the Queen’s normal conditions. To do their work journalist cannot travel to where a story is Birthday award. they call people, arrange and conduct happening, information, photos and video

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 19 Prime Minister Morrison, Minister Fletcher, here is what the people think about the ABC

Letters to the Sydney Morning children’s channel from mid-April (‘’ABC an informed educated people, able to Herald and The Age to air educational shows and mini lessons evaluate the actions of the government, to support students and teachers’’). This criticise its policies and identify its decision will provide much-needed support deficiencies. The huge cuts to ABC Mr Morrison is telling business that one for students and their parents struggling funding limit the research programmers measure of the integrity of a brand is how to cope with home schooling. The need to do to produce accurate, in-depth a business supports its employees. As commercial channels would not do this examinations of issues. Four Corners has recently as last December he announced because they can’t show advertisements revealed nests of mismanagement and plans to reduce government departments during children’s time slots. Well done, downright corruption that governments from 18 to 14. There were job losses. Aunty. Rob Phillips, North Epping, NSW prefer to conceal. Other programs on radio Similarly he is happy to reduce funding and television help audiences understand to the ABC, knowing this will result in Arts lift us up where we belong -The important issues over the entire country. significant job losses. What does this say arts perform a vital role: asking questions, The constant repetition of programs about the integrity of his brand? moving and confronting us, and providing shows the struggle to fill broadcast time. Judith Fleming, Sawtell, NSW us with a sense of cultural identity, as does In times of crisis we all turn to the ABC for the ABC (“Arts call for show of support”, ABCs on ABC - Your correspondent accurate, clear information. Let us demand April 24). Both creative arts and the ABC reminds me of all the educational the restoration of funding for the ABC. should get more federal funding. Support programs that ABC TV used to screen Gael Barrett, North Balwyn, Vic them so they can support us all. during the day. Only Behind The News Diana Wyndham, North Sydney Maintain the censorship rage -I kept remains as a remnant of what a great that memorable, almost wholly redacted resource to educators it was before Congratulations to the ABC for their Herald front page of October 21, 2019, as conservative politics began its dramatic lovely renditions of We Are Australian. The a reminder of how crucial in a democracy cuts to the public broadcaster. harmonising and the images of happy, are the Right to Know and press freedom. Phil Armour, Yass, NSW smiling faces, representing our diversity, are delightful. I normally get sick of these The outrage shown about the Annika Norman’s Wisdom - Dr Norman Swan ABC ads, but I can’t get enough of these. Smethurst and ABC raids was heartening has a large following thanks to his sage This has to be our national anthem. (“Let’s reclaim our freedom: decriminalise advice and communication skills. His Andrew Macintosh, Cromer, NSW journalism”, June 4). It is a cliché, but the views on COVID-19 are untarnished by price of liberty is indeed eternal vigilance. A personal or political gain. Government Advice on repeat - I noticed when world where journalists can be threatened spokespersons have given mixed and programs started to be scheduled to – in some countries murdered – because inconsistent messages during these run twice on the ABC. I noticed when they seek to tell the truth is an Orwellian challenging times, and seem threatened programs started to be scheduled to run nightmare. If the AFP and our politicians by medicos who disagree with them. The three times on the ABC. I noticed when are to be trusted, it is essential to maintain Morrison government should welcome features that I listened to a number of the rage about creeping censorship. the support of medical commentators years ago started to reappear. There is Ron Sinclair, Bathurst, NSW like Swan, rather than try to silence and no more meat on the bone. Message to discredit them. At times his alternate views Prime Minister Scott Morrison about his Letter to The Saturday Paper have proved correct and could have been proposed cuts: “Stop it. It’s not sensible, implemented sooner had government it’s not helpful. It’s un-Australian and it In Aunty we trust - The ABC has been less arrogant and defensive. We must stop.” Accurate, researched and played a vital role during the bushfire need all the help we can get. clear news and quality programming is an and coronavirus crises. Mike Seccombe Graham Lum, North Rocks, NSW essential service to the nation. (“Hundreds facing the sack with ABC Agnes Day, Myrtle Bank, SA cuts”, May 9) records our collective Top marks to ABC - Following its life- indebtedness to the ABC and its profound saving local safety broadcasts during the Funding cuts hurt quality and quantity contribution to our collective wellbeing recent catastrophic bushfires and floods, - Mike Seccombe skilfully outlines the and the social fabric of our polity. Scott the ABC has once again demonstrated its dire situation in which the ABC finds itself. Morrison has nevertheless ruled out any invaluable community role through its deal The role of the ABC is to inform, educate change to his government’s policy of with the NSW and Victorian governments and entertain the people of Australia. eviscerating the ABC, which he says has to broadcast educational shows on a The Coalition government does not want been “doing an excellent job, and they’ll

20 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 continue doing that job with the resources government. To place journalism into the the attached ‘please explain’ letter to that have been provided”. Here Morrison hands of commercial interests leads to the MPs The only really positive response echoes the remark (misattributed to death of our democratic society. Living she’s had so far is from the Greens. Captain Bligh) “the floggings will continue in rural NSW I have always treasured I am an Australian citizen. And I am a until morale improves”. The reason for the independent broadcasting of the voter. A very ANGRY voter. My ABC, our the Coalition’s animus was summed up ABC. When I do turn on to commercial ABC, Australia’s National Broadcaster, by John Howard’s former chief of staff, broadcasters I am appalled at the mind- is being eviscerated by the Conservative Grahame Morris, who described the numbing content I am subjected to. Liberal/National Party coalition that is national broadcaster as “our enemy, talking During the last fire season I relied on the currently failing to act responsibly as our to our friends”. That serious, intelligent, impartial and objective reporting of the country’s federal government. I think evidence-based journalism is perceived fire situation. I urge your government to of the Party alliance, best describing as “the enemy” tells us a lot more about reverse the drastic cuts to the ABC’s the Coalition as: ‘a group of indecisive the Coalition than it does about the ABC. budget and thereby work towards a people, unable to decide what to do Polling consistently shows ABC news and healthy democratic society. In your role next’. It is obvious that privately owned current affairs is Australia’s most trusted as Communications Minister I would media enterprises are not content with media outlet. Our national broadcaster has appreciate you using your extensive their big slice and are demanding the earned, and continues to earn, that high powers to prevent the funding cuts to whole pie. The ultimate and obvious level of public support. the ABC. As a senior Australian who goal, the privatisation of our wonderful William Grey, Tarragindi, Qld has closely followed the droughts, fires, national broadcaster, will not sit well floods and health emergencies that have with most Australians, certainly not with Letters to Minister Paul plagued Australia this year, the ABC has any of my friends and associates. At all Fletcher given me a sense of security and a line times, but particularly in times of crisis, of communication that is invaluable. It is the ABC must be available to everybody, There are relatively few moments in our life-saving to others. I don’t know how particularly in remote regions, and lives when we get the opportunity to make you are able to remove funding from such run at full strength. The ABC requires a significant and lasting contribution to the a valuable resource to the Australian public dedicated staffing levels and appropriate society we have grown up in and been especially when it is only eighty-four million funding. As with SBS, a targeted lack developed by. As Minister responsible for dollars which seems such a pittance of funding plus a diet of advertising one of Australia’s recognised outstanding compared to the billions being spread will create even more anger. Smart, institutions, your choices and actions around at the moment. Why does the intelligent, caring citizens deserve and government not want to save jobs at our on our national broadcaster will affect want better than the privately owned ABC? the lives of millions and determine how media slop that is currently on offer. Thomas Ebersoll, Newnes, NSW you are viewed in history. The world Janice Jordan, Adamstown NSW is witnessing widespread attacks on On a social level there are many people independent journalism - from defunding living alone in our society and at the Letter to the Treasurer to imprisonment and/or murder of risk of sounding ancient it is a source of journalists. With the politically-motivated companionship to many of your citizens. We fervently believe that the ABC Federal Police raids on journalists and the On a political level it is important to our deserves far greater support from the Liberal Party’s systematic defunding of the democracy. I am sure it is not lost to you federal government than it currently ABC, your government risks being viewed that during government take-overs radio receives. The ‘most important’ and ‘most through the same lens as Russia, China and TV are the first sources of information reliable’ source of news, information and other totalitarian regimes. The internet to be closed down by the rebels. In the and entertainment in Australia should remembers everything and your decisions age of rising populism we need free and be a source of pride to you and ALL will forever be linked to your name. For the unbiased reporting and I would hate Australians, and not be allowed to sake of this nation, and for your family’s to think that funding is being reduced die by a thousand cuts. We call on legacy I ask you to make the morally right because the government of today see it you and your government to: Firstly, decision and restore adequate funding to as a threat. All things considered, I am reverse the current threat of cuts to the ABC. Australia will remember you well amazed that you would consider removing the ABC’s funding; and secondly, for it. one cent from the budget of such a establish a truly independent funding Nick Gartrell, Thirroul NSW valuable resource especially in these basis for the ABC that ensures its It is with great despair that I have followed uncertain times. Please increase funding if ability to serve the Australian people the continuing cuts to ‘Our ABC’. anything! into the future. By all means, the ABC Successive conservative governments Carole Wilson, ABC Friend should be subject to financial oversight have cut back our national broadcaster to ensure its expenditure is properly in an attempt to eliminate independent Letter to all Members of controlled internally; but it MUST be journalism and place public discourse Parliament funded sufficiently to allow it to do into the hands of commercial interests. its job properly and without political Please let me stress the importance of Janice Jordan, on her own behalf (as interference. independent journalism for the health of a new member of Friends) and as a Michael and Susan Wright, a democratic society and a democratic longstanding supporter of the ABC sent Cammeray, NSW

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 21 How? We Zoomed, that’s how. Simple and State News effective. Via email we invited NSoS members We need to identify all potential allies in and several New South Wales the LNP and find ways to communicate others to log in. with them, he said. People power will Participants, if they hadn’t already, The ABC During the COVID-19 be especially important. We must keep Matt Peacock downloaded the Crisis hammering away. We shouldn’t worry about upsetting the government and we Zoom application. Australia’s terrible bushfires had hardly shouldn’t let ourselves be ground down. We sent a ‘how-to’ (if sought) email to all ended when a lethal new threat hit our who RSVP’d. And NSW&ACT Committee NSW President, Ed Davis, concluded shores – the COVID-19 pandemic. And, Member Cassandra Parkinson managed the event by thanking the speaker and as with the fires, Australians turned to the the RSVPs and hosted the ‘online event’. participants. “This is a really worthwhile ABC for trustworthy news and information. No one had to drive anywhere, take a train fight,” Ed said. “It’s a difficult fight or pay for parking. We all (about 50 of us) In a sign of the times, ABC Friends NSW & but it’s so important to have a strong sat in our own places, with our desktops, ACT went online for our first COVID event and independent broadcaster. Please laptops, tablets, or mobile phones and to hear about the role of the ABC in times everyone, keep up the good work.” watched and listened, posed questions, of crisis. Award-winning journalist and past Cassandra Parkinson and an hour later signed off wiser from director of the ABC Board, Matt Peacock, all that was shared by Matt and Quentin was the guest speaker. Committee, ABC Friends NSW & ACT Dempster. NSoS Committee Member When COVID came along, said Matt, Kate Reid introduced speakers, and the the ABC was one of the first employers Committee had sensibly pre-arranged to react. The IT department performed NSW & ACT Zooming through a handful of questions and a few others miracles setting up systems so ABC staff 2020 were taken ‘from the floor’. could work from home. Travel ceased and So we can’t have meetings in hired halls. The event was initiated by Janine Kitson, the ABC Board stopped meeting. Despite So what? Northern Suburbs of Sydney Convenor, NSoS, facilitated by Secretary the restrictions, the ABC has produced Branch (NSoS) was determined to keep Angela - extracting the mailing list, drafting many excellent programs throughout the the communications open and invited and sending the emails, Cassandra lockdown and the results can be seen former ABC Staff Director and long-term co-ordinated the event with the amiable in the audience response – the ABC has ABC Broadcaster Matt Peacock to share assistance of our NationBuilder guru Phil never rated so well. his insights into the ABC’s management Evans, and the process ran like clockwork. “The ABC is clearly the place people turn of the Covid-19 limitations and how One or two participants weren’t able to get to in times of crisis, but tell that to the it is providing comprehensive quality a satisfactory connection, possibly related government,” said Matt. “The ABC has information on a shrinking budget. to poor mobile or WiFi in their area. been cut by more than $100 million a year since the Coalition came into government in 2014, and that’s not counting the loss of the Australia Network.” The ABC is hurting. But there’s more to come. As many as 400 jobs could be lost in July when the government’s next round of cuts takes effect. Matt argued that the funding cuts are borne of a deep antipathy towards the ABC by some government members. “Every time the ABC does something good it irritates the government because the government doesn’t like the ABC. They don’t want it to succeed,” he said. “They’ve learnt that you can’t shut it down because the public likes it. But you can destroy it by stealth. They’ve learnt not to publicly criticise it but privately to hack it to bits. And in my view that’s their strategy.” To respond to this dire situation ABC supporters will need to mobilise the broader public to help defend the ABC, he said. The NSoS ZOOM meeting Quentin Dempster also spoke briefly.

22 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 and listened to Janine and special guest, 2021. No decision has yet been made State News Gaven Morris, ABC Director of News, about the Annual Dinner; our booking is for Analysis and Investigations. 28 August. We will await directions from Process for future reference: In mid-May NSoS followed up with the NSW government as to what sort of gatherings are permitted at this time. • Branch defines event a webinar. Matt Peacock, long-time investigative journalist at the ABC and past Over the last couple of years, student • NSW&ACT Secretary sends emails via staff-elected Board member, spoke about internships have been undertaken with NationBuilder to potential participants the massive challenges facing the ABC. NSW and ACT Friends. This year two • Zoom booking created by NSW&ACT He left attendees in no doubt about the students from UNSW are exploring Host impact of the hefty cuts in funding inflicted possible projects. One would consider • NB Admin sets up event online on our over the past six years. So many programs the tension between laws introduced to webpage terminated or cut-back and a thousand protect national security and citizens’ staff lost. Matt quoted ABC Managing rights to privacy, free speech and media • RSVPs reach NSW&ACT Host, they are Director David Anderson at a recent in light of the AFP raids last year on the automatically tagged by NB Admin with Senate Estimates’ hearing. Anderson home of a News Corp journalist and on the Event Name & Date; stated that the impact of the cuts from ABC’s office at Ultimo. It is anticipated that • Confirmation email auto-generated by 2014 and after was now approximately the project would involve scrutiny of the NSW&ACT Host with offer of Zoom use $106 million per year- a staggering figure Senate Committees of Inquiry established guidance for newcomers for an organisation with an annual budget to consider these broad issues. The second project would consider strategies • NB Admin generates a reminder for of around $1 billion. that ABC Friends might adopt to recruit participants prior to Event As head of the ABC Alumni and good and engage with the parents of young • NSW&ACT Host welcomes participants Friend, Matt stressed the importance of campaigns by both organisations to draw children. This cohort is identified as having as they log in around the appointed a strong attachment to the ABC and it time; attention to the plight of the ABC and the overwhelming public support for Australia’s would be great to secure their support in • All can see and be seen but the Host national broadcaster. It was great to see the campaign for the ABC. retains control of mics so that only those Quentin Dempster among the attendees The last few months have underlined speaking are un-muted to minimise who reinforced Matt’s message. Janine the crucial role of the ABC. The ABC noise. and her team in the Northern suburbs of demonstrated that it is an essential service Dare I say the first of many, with or without Sydney have followed up with a phone-in in the torrid months of the appalling a nasty virus in our ambit? Several to the Minister’s office to remind him of the bushfires. It provided vital information participants emailed in later to express strength of feelings in his electorate for the to those in danger and saved lives. their appreciation for this comparatively ABC. Sadly, the response still seems to The Friends’ Survey, letters to papers novel approach. For anyone wishing to be that the cuts to the ABC‘s budget will and a mountain of anecdotal evidence hold a Zoom event Cassandra is willing to continue. The NSW and ACT Committee emphasised the extent of public reliance assist - Cassandra: cass_park@outlook. thanks Janine and the NSoS Branch for on the ABC. So too with COVID-19, com, as am I - secretary_nswact@ their excellent campaigning. And thanks people have again overwhelmingly turned abcfriends.org.au - with email blasts. too to Cassandra Parkinson for her most to the ABC to provide accurate and accomplished hosting of the webinar. objective information. It is an indictment Angela Williamson of the federal government that their Secretary ABC Friends NSW&ACT Inevitably, a number of other events have had to be put on hold. Launches of new acknowledgement of the amazing work NSW and ACT Committee branches were scheduled for Penrith performed by the ABC has so often appeared begrudging and half-hearted. Report May 2020 (Western Suburbs of Sydney) and the Shoalhaven. Bev and Barry Renshaw The government has found around $100 The Northern Suburbs of Sydney (NSoS) were well advanced in their preparations million to assist private sector media in Branch was launched in early October for the Penrith launch and John Cleary these challenging times. It has continued last year. One hundred members attended (Religion Report) had agreed to be a to cut funding to the ABC. and heard a compelling address from guest speaker. Carmel McCallum was A factor, of course, has been the very Jonathan Holmes of Four Corners and organising the Shoalhaven event and close ties of this government with News Media Watch fame (see Update December Professor John Hewson had agreed to be Corp, the Murdoch Empire. This stable 2019, p. 5). The Branch, brilliantly led by a speaker. Happily, both John Cleary and for years has campaigned against the Janine Kitson, has built on this platform John Hewson have indicated that they ABC, as they have against the BBC in with sparkling events in the first months would like to be invited to the respective the UK. It is not just ideology that drives of this extraordinary year. In mid- events when new dates are set. The State News Corp’s campaign. They see the February, on the eve of St Valentine’s Day, Conference, which was pencilled in for late ABC as taking listeners and viewers away members and supporters enthusiastically August, has also been deferred. This two- from them. But, with control of 70% of demonstrated outside the Lindfield office day event usually occurs every two years Australia’s newspapers and a record of of Communications Minister, Paul Fletcher. and provides a great opportunity to hear blatant interference in Australia’s political Every second car hooted their support from Friends across the Branches and life, a healthy public broadcaster is for the strong message in the placards: work on strategy for the period ahead. The essential to democracy. A diminished and Stop the Cuts to the ABC. The rally was NSW and ACT Committee determined that emasculated ABC should be of concern followed by a dinner in the café opposite this event will now be held in late August to us all.

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 23 The Eden-Monaro by-election is on 4 July. are in planning through a network of Committee members Peter Lindenmayer sub-committees which we established in Tasmania and Gia Metherell are taking steps to February to streamline our activities. Some ensure that the ABC is a live issue in the welcome new faces have joined the 2020 Tasmanian activities for this campaign. Many people in this electorate Victorian Committee, bringing fresh ideas, year - what we can and can’t had direct experience of the bushfires new skills and bundles of enthusiasm do and the vital role of the ABC in providing to the Committee’s work. We are also information and advice. As in previous actively recruiting new Members, including In the North elections, ABC Friends will be encouraging encouraging all Members to recruit at least Before the world went awry, our Northern voters to consider carefully how the different one new Member – and this is already Group organised a farewell for two of its candidates and their parties view the bearing fruit. stalwart members, Belinda and Trevor ABC. We are urging a vote for candidates A further activity has been a strategic Wright. They joined the Northern Group in who will pursue the restoration of funding review of Victoria’s campaign plans in the 2014 following the Abbott Government’s to the ABC and who support free and lead-up to the next election. This plan will cuts to the ABC. Locally, they were active independent media. almost certainly include another marginal supporters of market stalls and always Professor Ed Davis seats campaign, which we are determined offered solid back-up to Anne O’Byrne in President NSW & ACT to make even more successful than our her role as Northern Convenor. Belinda Victorian campaign at the 2019 election. soon took on the role of State Treasurer and quickly whipped our financial systems We have continued our campaign to into place. She presented our Committee Victoria encourage the Federal Government to with detailed, timely and transparent Victorian ABC Friends have managed increase ABC funding – this at a time reports, and always knew where to locate to maintain – and even grow – our when the ABC has again demonstrated its every cent. In 2015 she was a delegate campaigning during the very difficult last lifesaving worth to the Australian people to a fledgling National Conference as three months. Just before the Coronavirus through the Bush Fire disasters and more steps were taken to form a truly National caused most activities to come to a halt, recently by providing reliable information organisation for Friends. including festivals, street stalls, etc., and advice during the Covid-19 crisis. You Victoria’s latest local group start-up kicked would all be aware, through the Nielsen At local markets (or, indeed, wherever off dramatically in Ballarat with a big splash surveys, that the ABC now has a national he could find someone to chat to) Trevor – more than 50 in attendance – local media commanding lead in the number and engaged in lively discussions about ABC reports in Ballarat Courier – see separate duration of online visits by Australians to issues, informing many attendees of report. Surrounding local groups helped the ABC website on a month-by-month Friends’ actions in support of the ABC and new groups in Ballarat and Bendigo with basis, since late last year. our concerns at the Government’s hostility to the ABC. Trevor and Belinda are now guidance and support – wonderful! Our members and supporters have sent settling into their new home in Bundanoon, In early April, incensed by the well over a thousand letters and emails in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Keep in methodologically unsound, one question to the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, in touch Bel and Trev. We will miss you, and ‘Poll’ by the Institute of Public Affairs recent weeks, requesting that the ABC be your commitment, warmth and boundless (IPA), effectively demolished by Paul Barry immediately granted a funding increase willingness to participate wherever you in Media Watch, ABC Friends Victoria in recognition of their recent efforts in the could assist. We wish you all the best in decided to commission the highly reputable national interest. your new life in the Highlands and thank Roy Morgan Research to survey the real Peter Monie you for the support you gave us here in opinions of Australians toward the ABC. President, ABC Friends Victoria Tasmania. Within a week, our very generous members and supporters donated enough to fund the survey and advertisements in The Saturday Paper as well. Much careful work was done in preparing the groundwork for the survey which was conducted in late April. The results of the survey dramatically show that support for the ABC has substantially increased this year, with the ABC the preferred source of accurate information, education and drama entertainment over all other media alternatives. It also reveals that most Australians reject any more budget cuts to the national broadcaster, with half demanding increased funding. See the report by Vice President Marcus May elsewhere in this edition of Update. L to R: Marie North Marlene Burton Meanwhile, the Victorian Committee met Belinda Wright Trevor Wright. regularly using Zoom and many initiatives

24 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 activity, but I discovered that there is still much to report. Our last face to face committee meeting was held in March and it was evident at that time, that the ABC’s Gardeners’ Market was not going to run. Late last year, a sub-committee chaired by Wendy Parsons planned a public event in partnership with The Hawke Centre with Quentin Dempster, talking on the topic “Criminalising Journalism, Silencing Whistle-Blowers - Your Right To Know”. The event was planned for 5 May. Accommodation and flights had been Hobart Committee members L to R: Margaret Reynolds Peta Fitzgibbon Rowan booked. Then Covid-19 restrictions were Wylie Anna Wylie Kate Durkin. Also present in Hobart but not in photo: Ros put in place. The whole of the Hawke Stoddart Peter Tatham. Joining in from Launceston: Anne O’Byrne Anne Layton- Centre’s 2020 program was put on hold. Bennett Kevin O’Dea. Looking ahead, we have set in place a new event date, 19 November. Fingers crossed! Fortunately, Qantas has given In the South resume market stalls and similar activities. credit for cancelled plane flights. We held Our Southern Group had its first gathering Quotes will be also used for inclusion in a state committee meeting by Zoom in for the year planned for March but this has our future election material. If you spot a May and were pleased with the way this had to be cancelled. We will reschedule pithy comment by a Tasmanian Member operated. It will be a while before we meet as soon as possible and all look forward or Senator, do send it on. The more again face to face but we know we can still to meeting then with Samantha Stayner, “spotters”, the better. We are also looking operate. Sandra Coopman (ABC Friends the ABC’s Manager in Hobart. Our to build personal relationships with our SA/NT Secretary) and I have been active indefatigable Southern Convenor, Ros local politicians and their office staff. We over the last two months on National Stoddart, had drawn up a calendar of do this by having a regular chat each time Committee matters. This committee events - market stalls and city mall tables we hand deliver a copy of the latest edition regularly meets by Zoom. of our National magazine, the one you are - for the first part of the year, but it soon The downtime during Covid-19 has became clear that it was no longer safe to reading. We look forward to resuming this contact soon. meant that other projects have been able proceed with any of these. Ros will get us to be actioned. I wrote a submission on all geared up again when we receive the In June, we will be launching a behalf of ABC F National to the Royal all clear. membership drive to encourage our many Commission into National Natural Disaster Statewide new supporters to become Friends. Watch Arrangements; it was submitted in April. out for our new stars, Anne O’Byrne and In the submission, we have called for At our State Committee’ first meeting Anna Wylie, as they tell their stories of why a National Emergency Communication of the year, we developed a full plan they care about the ABC and why they Plan, incorporating ABC Emergency of activities for 2020. At that time, we are Friends. Our thanks to Lara van Raay Broadcasting expertise. This submission gathered in two groups, using Facetime for her kindness, patience and generosity was grounded on the results of ABC to connect our Northern and Southern in supporting Anna and Anne through the Friends National’s bushfire survey Committee members. We have since videoing process. Last, but not least, we circulated in January, and information moved to Zoom meetings so that are working up ideas on better ways to and a strategy for reliable emergency members can stay safely in their own engage younger people about the role of broadcasting provided by retired ABC home. Much of what we planned at the ABC. If you have any suggestions, do WA technician, Alan Hughes (see ABC F our February meeting will now only be get in touch. We still have a few difficult National website to read the submission). achievable in the latter part of the year, months ahead. Please stay safe and enjoy I also wrote two articles for Update: “The including: your ABC at home. There is still much we ABC’s Foreign Correspondents” and • Andrew Bent Memorial Dinner in Hobart, can all do. We can still continue to pick up “Close to the Bone” - What it takes to tell promoting Media Freedom; and the phone, write a letter or send an email. Australian Stories”. And we will continue to get in touch from • A trip to the NW region to meet with our time to time with a call to action as issues As I write this state report, it is the growing number of members there and arise. beginning of National Volunteers Week local politicians. 18-24 May. State Committee and National Kate Durkin Committee members also took on the Committee members are all volunteers, task of monitoring and collating public Secretary, ABC Friends Tas so I would like to urge you to celebrate statements by our Tasmanian politicians the work that we all do, on behalf of our about the ABC. Rowan Wylie is overseeing members, to advocate on behalf of the this project and has already developed South Australia/Northern ABC. In SA, Sandra Coopman (Secretary), a healthy database of material. This Territory Rosemary Abbott (Membership Officer) will be used to assist Friends to have and Mihir Makwana (Treasurer) have targeted discussions with the public This state report was going to be short continued to deal with state operations in the politicians’ local areas once we by dint of the impact of Covid-19 on our during Covid-19 and Andrew Johnston

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 25 has done a review of our merchandise, government. in readiness for when events start up The Institute of Public again. We have kept in touch with our Affairs (IPA) and members, encouraging them to contact the Murdoch press their Federal Members of Parliament and conservative explaining why they value the ABC and commentators like push for appropriate funding. As it did in Andrew Bolt, Paul the dreadful bushfires, during Covid-19, Murray and others and in spite of serious funding cuts, the have constantly ABC has continued to operate on behalf shown their dislike of ABC Building Perth of all Australians. Covid-19 has once again the ABC. The IPA, a emphasised the ABC as an essential business funded “right service, keeping us: informed, connected, think is worth sharing. By the way, I didn’t wing think tank”, is particularly insidious entertained and educated during this ask Jenny so I don’t know whether she is and its reach into the current Federal traumatic period. What would we do referring to the Paul Murray of Sky News, Government is substantial. There is a very without our ABC! or the Paul Murray who was once the interesting article by Mark Buckley titled Sue Pinnock Editor of The West Australian and who still IPA is wrecking our democracy which mentions the ABC and is worth a read President ABC Friends SA/NT and writes a regular opinion half page or so in (Editors’ note: we have reprinted Mark’s National Committee Member. that newspaper. In either case, Jenny’s description holds true. ‘Our’ Paul Murray article and an IPA Quiz in Update on page here in WA is no fan of the ABC. 9. He names IPA members currently sitting in our federal parliament, which includes Western Australia Bobbie Mackley the Minister for Communications & the The WA committee decided early on President Arts, Paul Fletcher, who is responsible for this year that, instead of large events, the ABC. Buckley gives some insight into we would get out to markets where we Jenny Meyrick writes: understanding the thinking of the IPA and [insert photo 1 – caption] could have a I feel absolute despair at what has been the present government. The IPA is there stall, promote our cause by speaking happening to our ABC especially over the in the background, recruiting more and with people, provide information flyers last seven years. The Coalition under Tony more in the government to its ranks and and raise funds from our growing range Abbot promised affiliates and its way of thinking. The ABC of merchandise. We had a stall at the “No cuts to (possibly in the interests of “balance”) gives Mt. Claremont Farmers’ Market on 29 the ABC” and it a platform on programs such as Q&A February and at the Kyilla Community proceeded to cut and there is no criticism by the ABC of this Farmers’ Market in North Perth on 14 its funding after organisation (which wants to destroy the March. Committee members were getting elected. ABC), except possibly on Media Watch. I checking out more dates and venues Since then there can understand the possible strategy not when .... Well, we all know what happened have been more to anger the IPA, but by not calling them – or rather, what was not able to happen! savage cuts and out, they are allowed to quietly work away Depending on the timing of the lifting of a budget freeze in the background, recruiting many to the restrictions, we hope to get out there by the current cause that “the ABC has to go”. It is a again as planned. If anyone would like to suggest a market or similar community event which would bring us in contact with possible ABC supporters, please get in touch. Similarly, if anyone living outside Perth would like to run a stall for us in their community, or assist us to do so through their local knowledge and practical help, please also get in touch. Contact details are on the back page of Update. And although I said above that we would not be holding major events this year, we are considering another Christmas Dinner following our well-attended and entertaining event last year. There will also be our AGM, date & venue TBA. If restrictions continue or are re-imposed, we will hold the AGM by teleconference as so many other organisations have already done. Below is an opinion piece from WA Committee member Jenny Meyrick that I Mt Claremont Market

26 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 long term game for them. Let’s not forget All of this is really difficult especially given still going to be a big jump to obtaining that there is a motion by the NSW Young that we have at least another two years members from this activity. Our post into Liberals to sell the ABC passed a couple of of a government which just does not the Sunshine Coast got 3860 hits and 215 years ago. Some of these Young Liberals care about the ABC and in fact has many likes. Daniel did a post into Queensland will eventually stand and get elected for members who seem to be hostile towards generally and got 7140 hits and 804 Parliament and what then for our ABC? the National Broadcaster. likes. I did a very disappointing post into I realise that the ABC is trying to do many Jenny Meyrick Cairns getting 773 hits and only 25 likes. things with the reduced funds it has. The Committee Member, ABC Friends WA Another Queensland wide post got 8566 Federal Government can find money for hits but only 36 likes. Obviously not a very all sorts of areas except the ABC. It is pleasing image that time. We posted in about starving it of funding so that people Queensland to Toowoomba and got 4775 hits and a stop watching endless repeats and go pleasing 439 likes. Honey Daniel posted When the Queensland committee were elsewhere. In Western Australia we have into the Gold Coast and got 2900 hits and caught by COVID-19 isolation the lost our own 7.30 Report and other 299 likes. committee considered options. The programs, which is very frustrating, when Our next task was to invite those people quickest and easiest and most economical so much news comes from the east and who have liked our posts and convert was also something new. We decided to local stories don’t get the same coverage them to followers. We experimented with use social media to try to reach people we (except possibly on Local Radio). This various images and the cuddly images, had never done before specifically through is a long-term game plan by the Federal especially ones with babies get better Facebook. Since our audience was also government and the IPA and it needs to be results in isolation at home and were probably seen for what it is. How that message is desperate for entertainment, they were conveyed to the general public, however, likely to be using their mobile phones to is a huge problem. participate in social media. As this was Which brings us to how we, as ABC going to be a new skill for us we started Friends, can help in an effective way. It is simply. We took a photograph of the ABC very hard to cut through all the negative logo with bites out of it and the dilemma of ABC bashing going on. The ABC has its reduced budget. We then posted it across highest approval rates for a long time as a Queensland. Responses were largely result of emergency coverage of the bush positive but few in number. fires and COVID-19. Somehow that has to be built upon. I am not sure how that may be achieved, but if there was ever an image crying out to be used to appeal to the bush, and city dwellers for that matter, it is the one that I recently saw on ABC Facebook of a farmer feeding his sheep by dispensing grain on the ground in the shape of the ABC Logo and drone footage taken from above of the sheep in the Daniel and I made a game of it. He would paddock flocking to the feed. I think that post into a town with his favourite image could be a very powerful statement – just and I would post into a different town my opinion. with my image selection. Then we would In this era of marketing slogans (of which compare notes to see who had got the best results. Daniel nearly always won. our current PM is very fond), perhaps As we were both the administrators we could find a catchy phrase which of the Facebook page we then had to will cut through. It is worth a thought – monitor responses deleting the ABC something with instant appeal. Maybe a loathers’ comments and nut jobs as well. marketing company could assist. These In summary we hit Brisbane Toowoomba are ideas, but for example, the “8 cents a Then we used a Doctor Who image with Gladstone Rockhampton Gold Coast day” ads the ABC ran years ago, did get some Cyber men and we posted it into Mackay Maryborough and Bundaberg. people talking. Maybe a similar approach Townsville at a cost of a $60 dollars. It got Our total spend was around $350. Our like towards what people will lose with no 14,000 hits but only 89 likes. Obviously not ratio was about 10%. Our followers were ABC could be part of it. Any message everyone is a Doctor Who follower. We got about 1%. We now have just over 1000 has to reach more broadly to the bush as some valuable advice from Jeff Waters. followers. well as the city. The ABC itself has some We enlisted the support of Daniel Wilson great self-promotional material, but it is from the Sunshine Coast branch who had Our next task is to get more sophisticated only to those already watching the ABC. more experience than us. We decided not so that people can click on and donate. We were still very pleased given that we It is the same with ABC Friends – our to use videos with sound at this point as were in isolation and couldn’t do other message somehow has to reach the wider that introduces quite a different skill. He activities. community, because a “friend” sticks up oriented our focus more towards gathering for and gives a helping hand to someone followers. Followers receive your posts Ross McDowell who is in trouble. The ABC is in trouble. without you having to pay to do it. It was President, ABC Friends Qld

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 27 NSW Branch News

Federal ALP MPs Alicia Payne and David ACT Smith came and stayed for most of the Northern Rivers hour to show their support, and Senator Our pre-COVID Executive meeting in ACT Region thanks the ABC Katy Gallagher and MP Andrew Leigh sent February provided an opportunity to their good wishes. Unfortunately, Canberra ACT Region branch held a Thank You discuss plans for 2020. Oh well, at Liberal Senator Zed Seselja was unable to ABC demonstration (keeping within the least we got to welcome new Executive attend. Thanks to Vivian Lightfoot and Gia COVID-19 limit on 10 per gathering!) on member, Tim Mulroy and thank Jill Keogh Metherell for designing some great signs 22 May to recognise the superb coverage who continues to maintain her strike rate (which we’ll use for other events coming provided over the last few months on the with getting the ABC message into the up) and to Helen Moore for taking the lead drought, bushfires and COVID-19. With local print media. The contact details in organisation.) more staff cuts coming as the ABC deals on the back page of Update have been with the continually shrinking budget, we amended to reflect the changing roles. Gearing up for the Eden- wanted to let ABC staff know how much Monaro by-election Meanwhile local ABC radio continues they are appreciated, and to remind our to inform the North Coast, transitioning fellow citizens how fortunate we are to In 2019, Eden-Monaro was one of the from fire and flood resilience messages have broadcaster that continues to provide electorates that the ACT Region branch to COVID-19 updates with the local such important coverage in spite of severe targeted during the federal election, health authorities. With a void now to be financial pressures. quizzing all candidates on their attitudes filled following the demise of the local to the ABC and distributing a “scorecard” Murdoch print outlets, the task of doing ranking candidates in terms of their level even more with less resources, lies ahead. of support. ALP candidate Mike Kelly was Scrutinising of local government issues able to demonstrate a history of strong and the pressure valve service provided by and active support for the ABC and so “letters to the editor” will be greatly missed, was ranked highly, and we were therefore but I feel we will cope with the loss of pleased to see him elected. Andrew Bolt`s column. With Mike Kelly’s resignation due to ill In times of great change, it may be health, the branch plans to follow a similar reassuring to note that some things remain the same. The Member for Page, Kevin strategy for the by-election on 4 July. We Hogan, continues to ignore ABCF requests have contacted Labor’s candidate Kristy for a meeting to discuss adequate funding McBain and the Liberal Party’s Fiona and the possible negative effects of the Kotvojs, and will follow up with others proposed ABC Amendment Bills. On the when nominated. Early polling suggests Alicia Payne, Federal MP for positive side, Justine Elliot, the Member that bushfires, climate change and local Canberra (left) and Helen Moore, for Richmond has joined the Parliamentary issues will be dominant in voters’ minds. member of the ACT Region branch Friends group and we get another chance However, we hope to sway some votes to argue the ABC case with the Coalition towards candidates who show support Standing outside the ABC Canberra prior to the now deferred (October?) for the ABC, and this will be a good offices at a busy intersection on Budget. opportunity to publicise the importance Northbourne Avenue in 10 degree Peter Dickson weather, branch members displayed and plight of our national broadcaster. posters and chatted with passing Peter Lindenmayer motorists and pedestrians, and with some Convenor, ABC Friends ACT Region Shoalhaven and South ABC staff members who dropped by. Branch Coast Branch (forming) The inaugural meeting for the Shoalhaven and South Coast Branch of ABC Friends was to have been held on 9th May, featuring the esteemed Professor John Hewson, ANU, a great ABC promoter, as our guest speaker. It was with much regret, as we were so looking forward to the event, that we had to postpone our meeting, owing to the COVID-19 restrictions. We are planning to Left: Peggy Horn. Right: (L to R) Gia, Helen, Barbara, Jane and Sue. reschedule it once again in the Springtime.

28 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 It is now more essential than ever to Bound by a charter the ABC is not the one commercial television station. We join ABC Friends and support our most voice of the government but remains must emphasise the local value of the respected National Media Treasure! Keep independent of it. It was stressed that its ABC so that our communities will convey watching for the meeting notice, and budget of a billion dollars has to ensure their appreciation of the ABC to local please pass on to your friends and family. national coverage in television, radio and members. The outstanding performance Carmel McCallum online platforms. It not only staffs offices of the ABC news and current affairs Convenor around the country but also maintains division during the bushfire crisis and the foreign bureaus in several continents. COVID epidemic has been celebrated Approximately one third of this budget is and promoted by ABC Friends and we Central Coast spent before programming simply to keep should continue to remind our electorates the administration of the ABC functioning. of its invaluable contribution. The ABC’s On Saturday 23 May, ABC Friends on the Margaret suggested that one of our roles record in both cases demonstrates that it Central Coast hosted a Zoom meeting. as advocates is to better explain the cost provides a service to the entire community Along with our branch members, we of maintaining a national broadcaster and regardless of locality or circumstance. were grateful to have both our National how the ABC has been forced to exist on A fact that undermines the claims of President, Margaret Reynolds and former reduced funding. elitism from its opponents. Other issues NSW State President, Mal Hewitt present The result of continued cuts to the ABC’s that were canvassed include the vital to give us the benefit of their knowledge budget are further reductions in staffing role that the ABC plays in Australia’s gained from many years of advocacy on levels, this in turn leads to more pressure cultural life, particularly its coverage behalf of the ABC. Margaret emphasised on existing staff, curtailing programs and of the Arts. Our association with other that the ABC should be funded for the filling schedules with more repeats. Mal groups was discussed, particularly the same reason as other institutions such as reminded us that the national Liberal party ABC Alumni. The difficulties of proposed the Federal Parliament or the High Court, conference recently voted to privatise mergers between the ABC and SBS it is integral to a functioning democracy. the ABC and that were raised along with our involvement the Murdoch press in the upcoming by election in Eden continues to campaign Monaro. Once again, our sincere thanks against it. In his review to Margaret and Mal and to all those Ars Gratia Artis of Malcolm Turnbull’s guests and members who took part. My appreciation also goes to our branch I had a dream last night. I was federal Minister for biography A Bigger Picture, Robert secretary, Chris Moe who organised the the new Mega-Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Manne concluded his session. Regional Development and Communications. Ushered article in The Monthly Ross McGowen into the Cabinet Room, we were told to take our seats. (June 2020) with this Convenor, ABC Friends Central Coast observation: But before I could find mine, amplified music I have been writing started pouring from speakers— sort of gospel style, about Australia’s Western Suburbs of accompanied by hand-clapping. Each time it stopped, Murdoch problem Sydney (forming) we rushed to find seats but like a game of musical chairs, for the past decade. Through bitter one would be left standing. I thought I’d be fine, I mean, ‘ABC Friends meet Julius experience, two highly Caesar’ I had four seats to play with. On and on it went, people intelligent former prime ABC Friends WSoS New Branch Inaugural in and out, until finally there was only me, standing alone ministers - Rudd and now Turnbull- have Meeting and the ‘Ides of March’ before the PM. Bad luck cobber, he said, forgot to mention come to understand Scheduled for March 28, 2020 postponed I gave you ‘ARTS’ too, but they couldn’t fit it on the letter- the damage that on March 15, 2020 the Murdoch media head. When I went to leave he called me back, adding, If we think that bad luck is superstitious empire in Australia is then this story sounds a likely parallel to Don’t worry mate, you’ll walk it in. Just treat ‘em the same capable of inflicting on Our ABC as we postponed the launch as our ABC and grinned as he slid a finger over his throat. our democracy. of our new WSoS branch. A few months Both Margaret and Mal have ‘Ides’ that fall on the fifteenth day Note: On 5 December 2019, Australian made the following of March, May, July and October that Federal Ministry Re-allocations announced with recommendations coincide with the first quarter of the Departmental changes effective from 1 February to our members; moon according to the Ancient Roman 2020. firstly, to widen our calendars. On March 15, in 44b.c. reach if possible, Gillian Telford Julius Caesar was assassinated by Treasurer, ABC Friends Central Coast particularly through conspiring senators! Sounds another local media. We need likely parallel to Our ABC. On March Gillian’s poem is published in I Protest, Poems to explain exactly how 15th 2020 (Ides of March) we received of Dissent Selected by Stephen Matthews. the ABC’s budget is an ABC Friends NSW&ACT email stating Ginninderra Press (North Adelaide), 2020. spent. It costs less that after discussion the launch had to run a national been postponed to avoid the risk of the broadcaster than Covid-19 Pandemic. The ‘Ides of March’

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 29 day before Valentine’s Day it should be a NSW Branch News time for MPs to love the ABC. We then had dinner at Lindfield’s Bella Blue Café as a ‘thank you’ to the ABC management had struck once more. We asked Liberal Party MPs to move a and staff for their courage, dedication and We had just completed our extensive and recission motion at their next Liberal Party commitment during Australia’s 2019-2020 inclusive campaign in Greater Western Council meeting to ensure that our ABC bushfires. Janine Kitson presented a Sydney that included a cross section is never privatised and has called on MPs framed ‘Certificate of Thanks to the ABC’ of the community from students, the to publicly thank the ABC for its life-saving to Gaven Morris, ABC Director of News, elderly, local government, libraries, super emergency broadcasts during the recent on behalf of Ms Ita Buttrose, Chair of the markets, village/suburban weekend Black Bushfire Summer and COVID-19 ABC Board. crises. markets, unions, politicians who were Ed Davis auctioned an artwork of a prepared to listen and ABCF members. NSoS looks forward to a meaningful wombat, the artist’s only remaining Although greatly disappointed, we strongly meeting with the Hon Paul Fletcher, possession after the catastrophic fires. Ed supported the decision to postpone as Minister for Communications Cyber Safety Davis presented a Certificate of Thanks to being timely and essential. and the Arts, and Member for Bradfield, Wildlife Information Rescue and Education We shall consider available and because the party-political answers he Service (WIRES) for their Bushfire Recovery appropriate new dates with venue and gave in his ‘Telephone Town Hall’ meeting Relief work and Kristie Newton their promotional advertising at the ready. We on 19 May 2020 are unacceptable. In campaign manager, accepted the $1,610 now know that it could be some months, contrast to the Minister’s disappointing raised at the Dinner from auction prizes but we will be back just as enthusiastic, response, NSoS received many supportive and raffles. more knowledgeable and refreshed. Our messages at the ABC’s Reverse the Cuts’ NSoS plans to inundate Paul Fletcher’s thanks go to all who have responded by rally on 13 February 2020, including the Office with requests for him to stop the becoming personally involved and the Federal Member for North Sydney, Trent $84 million budget cuts to the ABC. The ABCF NSW&ACT Committee whose Zimmerman and Federal Member for 2018 budget determined that there would support was commendable. Warringah, Zali Steggall. Federal MPs John be these cuts, phased in from 2019-2022. Alexander OAM (Bennelong) and Jason The year 2020 will forever remain in our So, a significant chunk of the cutting has Falinski (Mackellar) replied positively to minds. We all share isolation, separation, already occurred. Let’s try to change their letters from NSoS. Would John Alexander inconvenience, fear and grief. Stay positive minds. NSoS Secretary is organising a have received fame as a tennis player and safe. telephone roster to encourage members to without the ABC sports coverage? We Beverly and Barry Redshaw request this of Paul Fletcher. It is urgent as should explore the ways in which the Co-Convenors, WSoS (forming) the cuts are due to begin in July. Contact ABC’s children’s programs, music, arts, Paul Fletcher’s Office (02) 9465 3950; drama, sport, information, news and send email via ABC Friends webpage current affairs programs on radio, television https://www.abcfriends.org.au/abc_ Northern Suburbs of and online have influenced them culturally, essential_for_recovery or directly by Paul. socially and politically. Sydney [email protected] or by posting The newly-formed NSoS Committee has More than 100 Friends of the ABC waved to Level 2, 280 Pacific Highway Lindfield been encouraging members to inform flags and posters outside Paul Fletcher’s NSW 2070 office on 13 February2020 at the Reverse MPs that Northern Sydney residents want Matt Peacock, an award-winning journalist the Cuts Rally. There was a noisy the $84 million budget cuts to the ABC and an ABC Friends Alumni, spoke via response to the placards ‘Honk if you love reversed: The ABC is an essential service Zoom to NSoS members on 12 May the ABC’. Janine Kitson read messages for the nation and requires appropriate 2020. He gave a fascinating insight into of support from politicians and friends. funding. It is intolerable for the government the Federal Government’s determination Ed Davis, NSW & ACT Friends President, to give $50 million bailouts to commercial to undermine the ABC through budget stressed that as the rally was held the media while cutting the ABC’s budget. starvation. Cassandra Parkinson hosted

Left: President Ed with Janine Kitson and Jenny Forster. Honk if you love our ABC.

30 ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 Janine Kitson(R) showing the framed Certificate of Gratitude to the ABC, about to be presented by Kate Reid to Gaven Morris. the webinar and has written a report of the meeting. NSoS has also written to NSW Transport Minister, Andrew Constance, requesting that he ensure that ABC News is shown on the video screens at North Sydney and Chatswood Railway Stations. Copies also sent to NSW Premier and Willoughby MP Gladys Berijiklian and Felicity Wilson, Member for North Shore. NSoS has also written to Northern Suburbs Mayors, urging them to ask the Federal government to re-instate the $84 million B1 and an ABC supporter. dollars cut from the ABC.

was not considered by the Armidale such as the use of Zoom. At this early Armidale Branch Regional Council. stage ABC journalist Julia Baird has agreed Transmission strength and coverage of to give this year’s talk. The year started with our attendance Radio National broadcasts in the Armidale at the Armidale market, which included One issue that we recently considered, region is very poor. We have been the collection of signatures for an open no doubt critical to all ABC Friends’ lobbying for an improvement for some time letter thanking the ABC for its coverage branches, is the role of branch committees now, contacting various federal bodies. and support during the spring/summer in a national organisation. In general, we Any actions to remedy this problem would bushfires. This letter attracted 141 now appear to lie within the ABC and, view this role as one which provides close signatures and was addressed to David given current budgetary constraints, we contact between the ABC Friends and Anderson (ABC Managing Director) may be waiting for some time. individuals within our geographic area. But with copies sent to our two political this begs the question as to what defines representatives (Adam Marshall, NSW Each year the Armidale branch awards that area, and thus the local community. MP; Barnaby Joyce, Federal MP). We are a $500 media prize to the strongest For the Armidale group, this seems to hoping to press home the important role of student graduating from the University of the ABC in regional Australia. New England’s Bachelor of Media and be defined by the federal seat of New Communication. For 2019 the winner England, apart from those areas which A complementary action was two motions was Jacob Johnston, who has already extend into the Hunter Valley (covered by presented to the Armidale Regional taken up a local communications job. We the Hunter Valley Branch). Secondly, what Council. The first was a recognition of wish Jacob all the best, with potentially a specific role should we play in respect to the dedication of ABC staff, particularly rich and interesting career in media and with emergency broadcast services, that community? Examples are provided communications. during the recent bushfires. This was regularly in these reports from branches, passed unanimously by the Council. The Our annual Armidale ABC Friends talk but a more principled set of suggestions/ second was that Council urge the Federal is scheduled for October/November of guidelines might be a valuable discussion Government to reinstate $84 million in this year. Hopefully, it will involve a live point. cuts to the ABC budget to allow for future presentation but, depending on any Dr Bruce Stevenson additional broadcasting as required in any COVID-19 restrictions at the time, we President, ABC Friends Armidale future crises. Unfortunately, this motion might have to look at internet streaming,

ABC Friends National Update, July 2020, Vol 28, No 2 31 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.

ABC Friends

ABC Friends National Inc. Queensland Western Australia PO Box 3620 Manuka ACT 2603 Ross McDowell Bobbie Mackley [email protected] 5 Dunn Ct Bunya Qld 4055 PO Box 534 Subiaco WA 6904 Phone: 0418 291 350 [email protected] Victoria [email protected] T: 0422 489 711 (office hours only) PO Box 233 South Melbourne Vic 3205 South Australia & Northern Territory Tasmania Phone: 1300 108 126 [email protected] Sue Pinnock Kate Durkin (Secretary) PO Box 7158 Hutt St Adelaide SA 5000 55 Feltham St North Hobart Tas 7000 NSW & ACT Phone: 0407 035 701 Phone: 0447 645 345 (office hours only) [email protected] [email protected] Ed Davis PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 Phone: 0438 166 986 [email protected]

NSW/ACT Regional Branches

ACT Region Eastern Suburbs of Sydney Northern Suburbs of Lismore sub-branch Peter Lindenmayer (Convenor) Nizza Siano (Secretary) Sydney Therese Crollick 0497 976 945 02 9327 3423 Janine Kitson (Convenor) 02 6628 7297 [email protected] [email protected] 0428 860 623 0403 070 063 [email protected] [email protected] Armidale Hunter Vic Wright (Secretary) Allan Thomas Northern Rivers Shoalhaven & South Coast 0477 877 315 02 4930 7309 Jennie Hicks (Secretary) Carmel McCallum (Convenor) [email protected] [email protected] 0431 958 991 0414 392 660 (texts preferred) abcfriendsnorthernrivers@gmail. [email protected] Blue Mountains Illawarra com Sue Noske (President) Jan Kent (Secretary) Western Suburbs of 02 4751 8320 02 4271 3531 Byron sub-branch Sydney 0421 020 610 [email protected] Tim Mulroy Bev and Barry Redshaw [email protected] 0412 149 106 (Convenors) Mid-North Coast [email protected] 0429 492 168 Central Coast Drusi Meggett [email protected] Ross McGowen 02 6583 8798 Tweed sub-branch 0400 213 514 [email protected] Sandy Copley [email protected] 0403 375 400 [email protected]

Victorian Groups

Like to join a local group or Ballarat Electorate Eastern Melbourne Latrobe electorate be on their mailing list? To Maureen MacPhail Neil: 0411 487 348 Peter Fleming find out more about one in 0476 247 870 [email protected] 0418 557 808 your area: ➞ [email protected] Geelong area [email protected] Not in these areas? Bendigo Electorate Michael: 03 5271 1222 Northern Melbourne Contact Marcus May Nancy Toohey [email protected] Margaret: 0421 338 155 0416 009 339 [email protected] [email protected] Inner Melbourne [email protected] Boroondara Michael Bond Southern Bayside as we are setting up new Gael: 03 9859 5185 0413 315 084 Ivor: 03 9580 6402 groups. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Castlemaine area Inner Western Melbourne Geoff: 0402 262 261 Anne-Maree [email protected] [email protected]