Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. quarterly newsletter

April 2012 UPDATE Vol 20, No. 1 incorporating Background Briefi ng friends of the abc CALL TO ACTION BY ALL FRIENDS

The Rudd Government was elected in 2007 on a promise that they WRITE TO: would immediately restore the position of Staff-Elected Director Senator Conroy, Minister for Communications, to the Board of the ABC. 5 years later we are still waiting! Parliament House, Canberra EMAIL TO: Why does the Board need a staff- down” that has affl icted local [email protected] elected director? radio in a search for a “younger This and previous Updates are full of demographic” CONTACT YOU LOCAL FEDERAL bad management decisions endorsed ABC STAFF, WHO ARE MOST MEMBER, IF LABOR DEMAND THAT by the Board: The ABC is becoming AFFECTED BY THESE DECISIONS, THE LEGISLATION BE DEALT WITH more “Sydney-centric” even though HAVE NO VOICE ON THE BOARD, IMMEDIATELY. its charter clearly states that it is to and increasingly feel that their views serve the needs of all Australians don’t matter – morale is low. -Once thriving and busy studios in Staff-Elected Director in Exile, other capital cities have been closed Quentin Dempster, puts it this way: Inside and staff “let go”-The ABC staff “The ABC needs Friends now more redundancy bill in 2011 was $7.3m than ever to point out to all Senators -The loss of skills, expertise, experience Update and MHRs that this great institution and culture has been catastrophic is for all Australians, not just those -In house television production has from Sydney and Melbourne. Good SMOKE AND MIRRORS: ABC’S TV been slashed despite clear evidence PRODUCTION STRATEGY 3 ideas, great writing, skilled fi lm and that it is cheaper than outsourcing, documentary making, editing and THE FALL AND FALL OF with most entertainment programs ABC TELEVISION 4 production are available right across the being made by the same companies A VERY BRITISH SUMMER ON country. The ABC exists as a taxpayer that serve the commercial networks YOUR ABC 5 funded entity as a major vehicle for – and the programs show it! JIM SPIGELMANAPPOINTED the discovery, training, nurturing and -Even these local products are being CHAIRMAN OF THE ABC BOARD 6 release of that talent – not as a business overwhelmed by British-made buy-ins ABC Q&A: ‘ADVENTURES IN partner to fully commercialised program -Whilst management argues effi ciency AUTOCRACY’ 6 making.” and cost-saving, we must ask whether A COMMENT ON THE Australia deserves better from a THE BILL IS NOT HELD UP BY A INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIA STUDY ON Q&A 8 publicly-funded “national” broadcaster HOSTILE SENATE – IT HAS THE -Radio National, the “jewel in the SUPPORT OF THE GREENS BRANCH NEWS 9 crown” for thinking Australians, is THE LABOR GOVERNMENT MUST clearly suffering from the “dumbing BE MADE TO HONOUR ITS PROMISE

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FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 1 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM Update Publication Information

Update is published four times a year by Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. (FABC), From the President PO Box 1391 NORTH SYDNEY 2059. Printpost approved PP245059/00002 To become a member phone ndoubtedly, the Friends of remaining facility where the ABC can (02) 9990 0600 or email to the ABC Branches scattered produce anything more than a local [email protected] across the state are our real newsreader sitting at a desk. This is a or access our website U www.fabcnsw.org.au. strength, with their local advocacy, broadcaster once proud of its federal support, publicity and lobbying for structure and national organization. Extracts from newspapers and other publications appearing in Update do not the ABC, and their unique value as a We have also reproduced a study by necessarily reflect the views of the voice to local political representatives. David Donovan, Managing Editor of members of FABC. This edition of Update includes Independent Australia, of the Sydney/ Update is distributed to all members of accounts of the outstanding work of Melbourne bias of the fl agship and FABC, as part of the membership fee. some of these branches: a community popular Q&A program. What is Update is also supplied to journalists, politicians and libraries across Australia. forum in Northern Rivers involving revealed is a disturbing imbalance It is edited and produced in Sydney but local politicians and community in representation, both geographical contributions are welcome from NSW country leaders which produced concrete and organizational. I urge all Update and interstate branches. recommendations; a Mid-North Coast readers with internet access to examine Material may be quoted or reproduced promotion through their local ABC from Update provided the source is Donovan’s extraordinarily detailed acknowledged and reproduction is sent to Shop; proposed public meetings in and thorough analysis, which can be the President FABC. Hunter and Central Coast with ABC found at www.independentaustralia. Would you like to receive Update personalities as guest speakers; a fi lm net/2012/republic/an-abc-qanda- magazine electronically? night in Armidale; a bold initiative case-study/ Save the planet's trees and The Friends from Blue Mountains Branch to printing and postage costs and read Update reinvent itself in a strategy to reach a NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD magazine on your computer. broader spectrum of the community. Friends of the ABC welcomes the Each quarter, when Update is published, you will receive an email with a link to the latest Thank you to leaders of local branches appointment of retired Chief Justice issue (each magazine is around 0.5MB). and their committees who work so Jim Spigelman to the Chair of the ABC You can try this now by going to our hard for “our” ABC. Board. It is a sign of the high regard website at www.fabcnsw.org.au and There is a very clear perception that clicking on Update. in which he is held that both sides of “our” ABC is under threat, not from If you prefer this delivery option for future politics welcomed his appointment. Updates please send an email to the hostile politicians but from its own Darce Cassidy gives us an interesting Membership Secretary. management. The new Radio National insight into Jim Spigelman’s earlier Who to write… has not pleased many loyal RN life in radical student politics, and his Anyone seeking basic information about listeners, and the constant erosion of advocacy for aboriginal rights. writing to persons of influence might find it ABC TV’s capacity to produce its own Friends of the ABC looks forward helpful to go to the FABC NSW website material is given extensive coverage in www.fabc.org.au where there are some to early discussions with the new menu items under "Be Active" leading to this issue. chairman on its major concerns pages of information: Who can I write to? regarding current ABC board policies. What can I say? THE SYDNEY BROADCASTING CORPORATION FABC (NSW) Executive Committee If current trends and policies Office Bearers Mal Hewitt continue, Sydney will be the only President - Mal Hewitt President, NSW FABC Phone: 02 9637 2900 Email: [email protected] Secretary & Treasurer - James Buchanan Phone: 02 9371 5621 Saturday 30 June at 2 pm Email: [email protected] Membership Secretary - Angela Williamson Kerry O’Brien Phone: 02 4883 4048 Email: [email protected] will be guest speaker at the Northern Rivers FABC Update Editor - Mal Hewitt PO Box 1391 N. Sydney NSW 2059 branch meeting. Email: [email protected] Kerry will discuss his career as an ABC Cartoonist - Phil Somerville journalist and will present awards to fi nalists Editorial Cartoonist for The Sun Herald (Sydney) in a Junior TV Journalist competition being [email protected] conducted by the branch. The event will be Layout Artist - Paul Martens held at the Bangalow A and I Hall. [email protected] Check the branch website Membership Line: 02 9990 0600 www.friendsabcnr.net for more details.

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FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 2 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM SMOKE AND MIRRORS: ABC’s TV PRODUCTION STRATEGY

have published a breakdown of all retaining the content in its archive for Quentin Dempster programs and resources on which future use. Host of 7.30 NSW, it relies to reach its 75% to 25% 2. The ABC production strategy ABC Staff-Elected breakdown fi gure. reveals a shift in management ‘spin’ Director in Exile This data is available. It should be to basically declare that in house published in the ABC annual report production in Brisbane, Adelaide, he ABC has produced a TV to Federal Parliament. Australian Perth and Hobart (BAPH) can be taken production strategy for 2011 to taxpayers are entitled to know how to mean news and current affairs only. 2013 in response to the recent their money is being leveraged into Nothing else or very little down the track. T content with co-investors from Senate inquiry into outsourcing. So much for any commitment to the commercial TV production The strategy document asserts: “No federalism within content creation industry, fi lm and TV fi nance and less than 75 percent of television and the skills which can be discovered lotteries agencies. You will note content will be internally-produced and nurtured outside Melbourne and that the ABC continues to use the (a proportion of all hours produced Sydney. The ABC is already painfully word ‘independent’ to describe excluding and news and current affairs) Sydney-centric. You would think that this sector. It is not independent. over the three year period. Programming digital multi-channelling would bring It is the commercial sector with commissioned from the independent more localism to content creation. But all the shareholder objectives sector will comprise the other 25 the opposite is happening because of the of any commercial entity. We percent, but a signifi cant proportion ABC’s now greatest challenge: sustainable understand this. We do not want of that will be co-produced using ABC operational base funding. to be misrepresented. We support a resources and facilities”. When you look at the ABC’s great vibrant commercial TV production contribution to Australian culture The corporation says it is committed sector. But it should not be through through the development of symphony to retaining a ‘regional presence’. In the cannibalising or undermining the orchestras from 1932, you realise that next three years ABC TV will continue creative independence of the ABC. federalism must be factored into the its factual initiatives in South Australia Taxpayers are entitled to know just ABC’s production strategy. Post WWII and Western Australia, it says. There will who is getting outsourced money a country with just six million people be more funding for Q & A to enable it and to make judgements about the to broadcast from every capital city and emerged with six full scale symphony quality of the programs and the some regional centres and Anzac Day orchestras with all the conservatorium cost effectiveness of the commercial will continue to be produced internally training and career development business plans attached to them. in each state and territory. which went with such a structure. In In the recent Senate inquiry into content creation our current leaders are “As is currently the case, news and outsourcing at no time did the ABC taking the politically expedient course current affairs will be the mainstay in or its offi cials contest the fact that predicated on a belief that no one will WA, NT, ACT and Queensland (with programs can be made more cost notice. Brisbane providing the base for Landline effectively in house. The ABC has the and Australian Story). SA will continue as facilities already provided at great The ABC needs the Friends now more a production hub via an ongoing prime expense by the taxpayer: sounds than ever to point out to all senators time series, currently Poh’s Kitchen, while stages, studios, rehearsal spaces, post- and MHRs that this great national institution is for all Australians, not an internal production team will be production facilities in property assets just those from Sydney and Melbourne. maintained in Hobart for Auction Room. across the country. The ABC does not Good ideas, great writing, skilled fi lm Subsequent program commissioning in pay state payroll tax or company tax Tasmania will depend upon audience and documentary making, editing and and has an operating cost advantage response to the Auction Room series.” production are available right around over the commercial TV production the country. The ABC exists as a taxpayer Friends of the ABC and staff who industry because of this. There is funded entity as a major absorbed this strategy after the no effi ciency dividend applied by vehicle for the discovery, training, distressing dispute about the loss of the Federal Government on the nurturing and release of that talent regional production capacity and the broadcaster. The ABC is making itself – not as a business partner to fully destruction of the specialist arts unit dependant on this external production commercialised program making. in Melbourne can immediately see two model, not just for expensive drama, problems: but for all documentary and most Sure the ABC needs money to make 1. A lack of transparency. After features programming. The ABC programs. years of contentious dispute about surrenders the copyright of the But we should not be making programs outsourcing and the deskilling of the intellectual property involved and just to make money for our commercial ABC, at the very least the ABC should immediately loses the benefi t of partners. Page 3

FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 3 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM The fall and fall of ABC television

Joan Laing Former President, SA FABC

t seems that every other week we learn of something that has happened Ito ABC TV or Radio National. A loss. A substitution. An abomination. From the number of emails I have had from Friends, dissatisfaction and disillusion with the ABC is widespread. With television, ABC in-house production has been cut to a minimum, the BAPH states bearing most of the cuts. The bulk of entertainment programs are being made, it seems, by the same production companies that serve the commercial networks. And the programs show it. But even these local products are overwhelmed by British-made buy-ins. For example, Friday from 6pm to 10.35 is virtually all British - except for Planet America. On Saturday British TV takes over entirely - except for the news - from 6pm with Minder and after the news New the dumping of his work of federalising presenters such as Peter Mears and Tricks, Accused, Jonathan Ross and production and with the part in all this Ramona Koval - have been dumped Ashes to Ashes - and all crime except played by the current ABC board. without explanation. for JR. Sunday: we go British from 5pm But Peter and Ramona understood what The jewel in the crown that was to 11. was happening and got out quickly. The Was this why the ABC was established The feelings I have in responding to the presenters of many retained programs 80 years ago? Is this what Friends of the actions of ABC management in relation to have been moved on, replaced by younger ABC have been fi ghting for since 1976? Radio National are akin to those I had in presenters. The brilliant Alan Saunders July 1996, when the Howard government has lost By Design but hangs on in All Looking Back took an axe to the ABC. in the Mind. Richard Adey, the best ever John Bannon was a very effective ABC All right, so it’s not so bad as that, but presenter of Life Matters in my opinion, board member, retiring in 1999. Chairman it feels as bad, for this time it is ABC is still there somewhere but I can’t fi nd of the Board Donald McDonald “paid management that is doing it, not the him now that I turn on Radio National less special tribute to Mr Bannon’s furthering government. And once again we are often. of the process of ‘federalising’ the ABC. receiving angry and disappointed letters, New presenters that show up on RN - That is, moving functions and people into this time about the changes to Radio no longer Radio National, it seems - are the BAPH states [Brisbane, Adelaide, National. invariably young unknowns (to me at least). Perth and Hobart]. He can rightly take We fi nd it hard to understand that Then the penny dropped: Radio National pride in the recent developments at programs such as The National Interest, has been remade and possibly dumbed Collinswood.” Background Briefi ng, 1999 The Book Show, The Sunday Story, Asia down to attract a younger and larger John Bannon must be saddened at Pacifi c, and Artworks - that is, some of the audience. the latest changes to the ABC, with best of the old line-up with outstanding It remains to be seen how this works out.

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FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 4 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM A VERY BRITISH SUMMER ON YOUR ABC

Henry Reynolds

BC TV has returned to failure to present Australia to the institutions. And then there are the normal programming, but the national audience during a holiday travel programs, often dominated by Adominance of Britain lingers on, period when presumably people had ageing British chaps who see the world writes Henry Reynolds. more leisure time to watch television. through British eyes. In a recently released policy It also raises the larger question of The galling aspect of all this is that statement the ABC’s managing whether the ABC makes enough many such programs could be made in director, Mark Scott, and his head product to be able to represent and Australia by Australians. They are not of television, Kim Dalton, declared interpret Australia to the world. the highly expensive costume dramas that the corporation would prioritise It is interesting to speculate about that the ABC cannot realistically afford the “funding, presentation and how a visitor over the holiday period to make. The frustration of ABC staff programming of Australian programs.” would have fared if she had sought must be acute as they see program after Given the dominance of British to learn something of this country program brought in from Britain, the programs on the network, the by watching the national broadcaster like of which could be made here, and commitment was welcome news. If during the peak viewing period. Many which they know many Australians ABC1 is the corporation’s fl agship then evenings would have passed without hunger for. The country’s large and it frequently sails with the Union Jack her hearing an Australian accent. able community of documentary fi lm- at the top of its mast. Indeed, ABC She would have concluded that the makers must surely feel, with much television vies with the monarchy in quintessential Englishman Stephen Fry justice, a sense of betrayal. perpetuating the colonial relationship was a pivotal fi gure in local cultural Does all this matter to the with the old imperial heartland. life: he headed up a weekly panel management or the board, I wonder? The dominance of British - and program, his travel adventures were Are they ever embarrassed by the mainly BBC - productions was screened on four nights and on one Union Jack on the mast-head? Do they particularly pronounced over Saturday evening he was allowed to ever feel uncomfortable when night Christmas and the New Year period hog the screens for ninety minutes after night ABC screens are dominated and overwhelmingly so during the while being interviewed before an by British programs? The ABC never three-hour peak viewing time between audience at the Sydney Opera House. bothers to indicate, as SBS routinely the end of 7.30 and the late news at Has any Australian public fi gure ever does, the provenance of its programs. 10.30. Over those six weeks Australian been so indulged by the ABC? Our It is as though it doesn’t think it programs were on the screen only a hypothetical tourist would have left matters - that British and Australian little over 10 per cent of the available Australia with the impression that programs are easily interchangeable, time. On twenty-nine of the forty-two she had visited a county rather than a that what is of interest or concern over nights in question there were no locally country. there will evoke the same response and made programs at all. None! The lack of Australian programs be equally relevant here, half a world At one point, seven nights in a row might be accentuated during the away. passed without anything Australian on holiday period but it is symptomatic The comparison with SBS is the screens during those hours. There of a larger, more general problem. instructive in other ways as well. Both was a second period of fi ve nights Regular ABC viewers learn more networks show many non-Australian without anything local to watch. Over about British than Australian history, programs. But the difference is that the six weeks only twelve Australian- archaeology and heritage, landscape SBS is cosmopolitan and as a result made programs were shown during and wildlife, architecture, planning refl ects contemporary multicultural peak time, several of them repeats. and design. Perhaps more importantly, Australia by screening programs During four weeks in January, seventy- we see more British than Australian from all over the world. The ABC, eight British programs were screened programs that might be characterised meanwhile, refers back to the long-lost and only nine locally made ones. as contemporary sociology - programs British Australia of the age of Empire. By any measure this was an that deal with consumer issues, social This must surely be the explanation for extraordinary situation - a complete relations, schools, hospitals and other the continuing dominance of British Page 5

FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 5 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM programs. But there is a further, more Dominion subservience. Over the to us politically with every year that humiliating symptom of the colonial years many senior positions were taken passes? subservience. It is not as if the ABC by expatriates from the BBC. It still Will it change? Probably not any and the BBC had an equal, reciprocal happens - the head of ABC 1, Brendan time soon. relationship. Almost all the cultural Dahill, is a refugee from the BBC. The ready access to affordable British traffi c is in one direction, following the It is easier to understand the present programs slows adaption and limits old imperial lines of communication situation of the ABC if we consider the innovation. Government could speed and authority. Does the BBC often development of many of Australia’s up the process in two ways. More take ABC programs, I wonder? It is cultural institutions, which moved money is obviously essential. But it certainly unthinkable that any British from deference to independence over would be useful to apply a new system television channel would show little the course of the twentieth century. of quotas. We are familiar with ones but Australian programs, as a matter of The orchestras, the universities, the that mandate Australian content. course, night after night. galleries, theatre companies and the Perhaps the ABC should be forced to Clearly the ABC has not outgrown courts all freed themselves from the accept an upper limit on the number its origins, dating from 1932 and the imperial embrace. ASC radio followed of British programs that can be shown. Indian summer of Empire. It was at a similar trajectory, and in the process By that means we might during future birth a “thoroughly imperial artefact,” created a network [Radio National JL] holiday periods be able to watch in the words of the corporation’s which, on any measure, outshines the Australian-made programs. historian, Ken Inglis. For many years SSC. It would be a welcome and refreshing Australian accents were shunned Will ABC television continue to change. on air and imperial benefactors paid be the last of our great cultural for ABC staff to train at the BBG institutions to fully refl ect Henry Reynolds’s latest book, A History of in pursuit of a conscious policy of contemporary Australia at a time when Tasmania, was published in October by strengthening ties and perpetuating Britain becomes of less importance Cambridge University Press.

The former chief justice of the Supreme Court of NSW, Jim Spigelman, has been appointed Chairman of the Board of the ABC

Others argued that as students we should be using our research skills on the Darce trip, to study the issues at fi rst hand, and Cassidy write a detailed report when we got back home. A number were strongly opposed ’ve known Jim Spigelman since we to the idea of any public protests. Jim Spigelman were students at Sydney University in We set off with this issue unresolved. Ithe early nineteen sixties. There was a microphone available on the Jim was one of the leaders of a bus, and throughout the trip these and Mr Spigelman, who retired from the conservative breakaway from the Sydney related issues were debated. bench last May, replaces the former University ALP club, of which we were In Walgett the issue came to a head. stockbroker Maurice Newman, who both members. As I saw it his group The local RSL club had refused admission stepped down at the end of last year. wanted to take a softer line, for pragmatic to Aboriginal ex-servicemen. A proposal Mr Newman’s tenure at times reasons, on Australian involvement in the to stand in a line outside the RSL club was marked by controversy. He war in Vietnam. I had a few harsh words to holding placards denouncing the decision said journalists had succumbed to say about Jim, and the breakaway group. to exclude Aboriginal servicemen was groupthink because they failed to However things were different on the hotly debated. Opponents of this action predict the global fi nancial crisis and his 1965 Freedom Ride. Together with pointed out that this could infl ame things. parting shot was a suggestion to merge Charles Perkins, Jim was a key fi gure in However, with support from both from the ABC and SBS to save money. the Freedom Ride, a bus trip through the Spigelman and Perkins the motion was Facing Mr Spigelman will be a long outback of NSW to investigate and, carried. It was a turning point in the list of issues, the top of which is where appropriate, take action against Freedom Ride. how the ABC remains relevant in a the mistreatment of Aborigines. After Walgett there were no more changing media landscape, and its The thirty odd students on the bus were real arguments about being involved in response to the government’s review on a mixed group. They included a number demonstrations. convergence in the media. of communists and quite a few I think Jim Spigelman will be a good, He will also have to negotiate another evangelical Christians. careful and cautious chairman of the round of triennial funding and ask for Some of us had been inspired by the ABC. He should work well with Mark more money as the corporation expands Freedom Rides in the United States. We Scott, who can be outspoken when the its reach with new channels and felt the time had come for action. circumstances require. appears on more digital devices.

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FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 6 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM ABC Q&A: ‘Adventures in autocracy’

The national broadcaster promotes from Sydney and a very low proportion the show as being “adventures in from Western Australia, Queensland David democracy”, but according to a new and regional centres. Donovan Independent Australia study, if ABC’s popular Q&A programme set electoral hroughout the month of March, boundaries, it would produce a Managing Editor of Independent gerrymander worse than Joh Bjelke- TAustralia, David Donovan, has Petersen’s Queensland. It appears that the conducted a detailed study of the ABC The study, which details every guest fl agship program Q&A, which reveals on the ABC’s current affairs panel producers have some rather disturbing aspects of the show hosted by Tony Jones, Q&A, their favourites “balance” of the program, and the since its inception in 2008, shows an selection of guests. overwhelming preponderance of guests when it comes to thinktanks.

Figure 1. In addition to being focussed on NSW, where Q&A is usually produced, the study shows that the programme uses an extremely narrow range of talent. For instance, out of the 680 panellists appearing since the show began, only 345 different individuals have appeared — an average of almost two shows per guest. This average is bumped up because some guests have been on the program up to 13 times, including tonight’s guest Tanya Plibersek, despite only being a junior minister until December 2011. (Another guest appearing tonight, Malcolm Turnbull, will be making his twelfth appearance on the show. Note Figure 2. Figure 2.) Independent Australia found that many prominent Australians, including Don Henry from the Australian Conservation Foundation and former Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr Helen Caldicott, have never been asked to appear on Q&A. “I’ve never been asked and would like to be,” Dr Caldicott told Independent Australia in an exclusive interview. “I fi nd it somewhat stimulating, but a limited range of topics is discussed.” The research shows that the show is relatively even-handed in presenting voices from the two major parties, but seldom includes panellists representing minor parties. It appears that the producers have their favourites when it comes Page 7

FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 7 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM to “thinktanks”, with the free hard to imagine they don’t think we’d included in the fi nal report – they marketeering IPA topping the list have something to say about the big appear to be more concerned about with 4 different panellists and 11 issues.” providing entertainment.” appearances in total (not including The author of the study, Independent “They seem to see Q&A as a sort of appearances by former staff members). Australia managing editor David modern Australian Punch and Judy Meanwhile, prominent progressive Donovan, says the ABC is letting down show.” think tank The Australia Institute the public by its narrow focus and may “Of course, entertainment is one of has never featured on Q&A, despite indeed be in breach of its own Charter the objectives specifi ed in the ABC TAI’s current head Dr Richard Denniss and Code of Practice. Charter, but it is mentioned in that debating Lord Christopher Monckton “The ABC, by focussing on the same document after those of providing about climate change at the National few people, mainly from the two major a sense of national identity and Press Club last year and its former parties, is not presenting a full range of informing.” head being prominent author and views,” said Mr Donovan. “Also mentioned in that Charter intellectual Professor Clive Hamilton. “And by focussing on such a narrow is the need to refl ect the cultural “As the director of Australia’s largest range of people and views in such a diversity of the Australian community, progressive think tank I am sure the popular and important current affairs which appears doubtful in this producers of Q&A will have me on one show, Q&A is in danger of breaching program from its focus on voices from day,” said Dr Denniss in a statement its own Code of Practice and Charter,” Sydney and Melbourne at the expense provided to Independent Australia. he said. of voices from SA, WA, Queensland, “Given the Institute’s research “The ABC Code of Practice says it has Tasmania and regional centres.” into the impact of the mining a duty to provide balance, impartiality “Far from being an exercise in boom, climate change, tax reform, and a diversity of views, however democracy, Q&A operates more like superannuation and the role of based on the responses I have received an autocracy that showers patronage government in the 21st century, it’s from Q&A producers – which will be upon its favourites.”

of upmanship? If any station is to tackle A comment on the governance change and comparative discussion of other systems, especially in non-English speaking countries (there Independent Australia really are plenty opportunities there!), it should be the ABC!! The limited funding should go to the kind of programs the study on Q&A commercials won’t touch. Q & A could be profi tably be re-directed to do exactly that but this would require much more away from the Westminster adversarialism, careful selection of panellists and a Dr Klaas Woldring altogether. That is desirable and possible reduced role for the politicians. Co-Convenor, Central but it doesn’t happen by itself. Nor is it Coast Friends of the ABC “inevitable”. We see a similar trend in the The ABC needs a big shake up, new program Drum on TV; and possibly we need to see much more diversity also in Big Ideas. Policies discussed there there. This nation is greatly in need of his research by David Donovan concentrate on what happens within the political education that stretches far hopefully results in improvements framework of the existing governance beyond the entire concept of ideological to the ABC’s Q and A program. T systems. We are not really moving forward balance. If the ABC is to be the balance Comments can be made on like that, to the contrary. in Australian society - a much more Independent Australia’s blog on his productive concept - they need to website. I for one will comment on the embark on what the universities and failure of the ABC altogether to produce commercial media are clearly failing to programs that question the lack of do: examing our governance systems, governance system reform. Everything The ABC needs a big the political two-party tyranny and seems to be geared to “entertainment” shake up, we need to see its failure, the electoral systems, the rather than public education and dysfunctional constitution that can hardly information. The domination of Q and A much more diversity there. be changed, the costly and dysfunctional by politicians or retired politicians of the federal system and what could replace major parties - who are almost always it, the Westminster system itself and why represented on the panel - often results Most of the ABC content is a perhaps a a Republic is long overdue. Indeed, the in an adversarial format which is, in slightly superior, in-depth take on “Current ABC is in a unique position, quite within part, just a replicate of the disheartening Affairs” that are also being discussed - ad the terms of its Charter, to take this on. federal parliamentary debates. infi nitum - by the commercial stations. But And as good Friends it’s our role to point My view is that Australia should get should the ABC be involved in this kind that out and encourage change.

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FFRIRI 001616 NNewsletter.inddewsletter.indd 8 33/04/12/04/12 1:421:42 PMPM of News/Current Affairs presenters that usually provide the fare for our speakers. The more so when with Branch News ratings of around 2% of the radio audience according to surveys. However, those of her fans (both FABC For most of the participants this members and Heathens) who turned Central Coast was an opportunity to greet and out, were rewarded with a fascinating make friends, to enjoy the festive talk covering aspects of her life to ADVANCE NOTICE FROM CENTRAL atmosphere and to share many date, laced together with her thoughts COAST BRANCH enthusiastic discussions about the on the ABC and on music. We also Scott Bevan will be ABC with members of the committee. attracted six new members on the day. Guest Speaker in The recent changes to Radio National We are in the process of organising Central Coast on a programming, especially, were a focus. some excursions, at least one of which date to be advised As well as gaining positive publicity is planned to involve a joint meeting later in the year. for the great community value offered with another branch. Scott Bevan to us by the ABC, a substantial amount We have a major project to attract hosts the nightly was raised to support the International new members from a demographic ABC News 24 Film Festival of which the local ABC which are not the traditional province Scott Bevan program, The radio station has been an active of FABC members. I will have more to World, focussing sponsor. say on this in a subsequent report as on international and national news, The organising committee wishes to the project progresses. and anchors the late news each week express heartfelt thanks to the Belgrave Tony Tayler night. He began his career as a print Cinema and to all who gave such President, Blue Mountains Branch journalist in 1984, before reporting and support to this event. presenting news for commercial radio and television. With a desire to use the Mid North Coast Japanese he had studied at university, Blue Mountains FRIENDS JOIN WITH ABC SHOP TO he moved to Tokyo in 1989 and stayed Blue Mountains Branch has CELEBRATE for 15 months. His language skills embarked on some new directions in improved, but not nearly as much as his 2012. The Mid North Coast branch of Friends ability to perform karaoke. The most obvious change is to of the ABC (FABC) is celebrating one Among the major events he reported implement some of the results of year since the ABC Shop opened in on were the 1998 Papua New Guinea last year’s branch Questionnaire into Port Macquarie. FABC President Drusi tsunami, the East Timor crisis in 1999- member’s preferences for activities. Megget said the Shop provides a link 2000, the Australian Embassy bombing This revealed that a majority were between the community and the in Jakarta, and the 2004 Boxing Day interested in hearing more guest national broadcaster. tsunami in Banda Aceh. Before starting speakers present. Consequently, we “With three-quarters of all at the ABC in mid-2005, he worked for have scheduled at least six for this Australians accessing the ABC in some the Nine Network in news and current year, a very considerable increase on way during each week, it’s great to affairs. He returned to East Timor for the two last year and one the previous have the store now well established in the 7.30 Report in May-June 2006, to year. We also Port Macquarie”, Ms Megget said. report on the civil unrest in the young plan to make our “The aim of our group is to support nation. Scott has been a reporter and Speakers Program the ABC and the store is one way to part of a wider fi ll-in host for the 7.30 Report, has raise awareness of the wide range of Blue Mountains also produced for Australian Story and media now offered by the new-look cultural experience presented on ABC Local Radio. Scott ABC. There are four ABC TV channels, at a later stage to Bevan was appointed the ABC’s Moscow fi ve radio channels and extensive on- encourage those Correspondent in January 2008. line content”, she said. interested from Emma Ayres He has written two plays and two outside our region The ABC Shop is at Settlement City, books, including Battle Lines: Australian to attend, thereby further promoting Port Macquarie, and store manager Jess Artists at War. FABC and providing a platform for Inglis said that major features of the exchange between our members and shop include a live news feed from the Armidale people from further away and/or as yet ABC newsroom as well as information on new ABC TV and radio programs. The Armidale branch of the Friends of unjoined members. the ABC held a very successful cinema Our fi rst speaker this year was ABC “We have created a retail space that benefi t night at the Belgrave Theatre in Classic Breakfast Presenter, Emma offers customers an interactive and mid-March. A near capacity audience Ayres. She enthralled the equal largest engaging experience. Customers can queued for some time to get good seats audience (only rivalled by David buy their favourite ABC products while for the widely acclaimed fi lm Stratton, last year) we have had in learning about programming or voice adaptation of John Le Carre’s Tinker three years. It was an interesting turn their opinion” Ms Inglis said. Tailor Soldier Spy. to take given the preponderance Ms Megget also took the opportunity Page 9

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school student, a tertiary educator, an Indigenous leader, a active member of the Sikh community, a senior citizen representing local U3A branches, an ABC Open participant, a singer and a fi lm-maker. Justine Elliot (MP for Richmond) was on hand to listen to the view expressed and to respond to submissions made by the Northern Rivers branch. Janelle Saffi n (MP for Page) sent apologies due to a sudden illness but earlier in the week joined Justine Elliot in discussing the submissions with the relevant Minister, Senator Conroy. Messages of support came from Quentin Dempster (as the ABC staff member in exile from the ABC Board) and the Northern Rivers Writers Centre.

The branch submission was as follows: We feel that: 1. the existing charters of the ABC and SBS should remain intact, except where it is necessary to take account of new technologies Harry Creamer, Jess Inglis, Drusi Megget 2. appointments to the ABC and SBS boards should be made on merit to welcome the appointment of the of Stateline NSW. He was made a 3. there should be staff representation former chief justice of NSW, James member of the Order of Australia for on each board (Jim) Spigelman, AC QC, as the chair of his services to journalism and current the ABC Board. affairs, and is a Walkley Award winner. He has also been the staff-elected “FABC has had concerns about director on the ABC Board. It has been blatantly political board appointments four years since Quentin last spoke to in the past, but Jim Spigelman will the Hunter Branch members, and he lead a rejuvenated board, rising above will undoubtedly have much to say the culture wars we just don’t need in on recent developments. For more Australia”, Ms Megget said. information ring Allan or Lisa on “At some time or other, the ABC 49307309. reports and refl ects the views of all The Hunter Friends of the ABC is Australians”, she said. now on the Web. Thanks to the work FABC is inviting new members to join of committee member Stuart Carter we the group – for further information now have our own pages, which can please contact Drusi Megget on be accessed through the State FABC 6583 8798, or send an email to website. [email protected] To see our new pages go to www. fabcnsw.org.au/branches/hunter. Asoc Prof Baden Offord The Hunter html The Hunter Friends of the ABC will be 4. the level of government funding hosting a talk by Quentin Dempster Northern Rivers should be increased to recognize on Sunday, 20 May, at the cultural signifi cance of each On Saturday 18 February the 1:00 pm. The venue broadcaster Northern Rivers branch hosted a is the second fl oor of 5. no commercials should be allowed seminar at Bangalow with the clear Devonshire House, on the ABC and the reliance of SBS on intention of “Supporting our National King Street, Newcastle. commercials should be reduced (with Broadcasters: ABC and SBS. The Devonshire House is no ads allowed during programs) seminar was addressed by a range of across the street from Quentin speakers refl ecting a broad cross-section 6. both broadcasters should remain at Panthers. Dempster of the Northern Rivers community. the forefront of new technologies Quentin is the host The speakers included a secondary 7. both broadcasters must maintain Page 10

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commercial advertising on SBS. Lucille Brace used powerpoints to illustrate what she had learned from active involvement in ABC Open programs. Sophia Stacey outlined her work on a TV program that deals with the work of local artists and could perhaps gain more national exposure on ABC or SBS. Local singer Sara Tindley entertained the audience with a set of her own songs including “Down the Avenue” which helped boost her career through exposure on ABC radio. John Arkan Sophia Stacey All who attended the seminar enjoyed the inputs from speakers and appreciated the attendance of our local independence and balance inclusiveness of ABC and SBS. member. More details of the seminar, 8. more support should be given for Associate Professor Baden Offord including photos, may be found on staff training and cadetships explained how he had surveyed the branch website at http://www. 9. the broadcasters should have their colleagues to reveal the educative value friendsabcnr.net own production facilities and should of ABC and SBS programs. He felt the Neville Jennings national broadcasters were educational not rely totally on outsourcing of President, Northern Rivers FABC ABC production resources par excellence in our civil society. Having just returned from 10. our two national broadcasters Tokyo, he argued for iView programs should be leaders in producing being made available overseas, Australian drama, documentaries and especially so that expatriates could quality children’s programs remain informed by Australian current 11. continued support must be affairs programs. provided for overseas bureaux Rhoda Roberts noted her providing an Australian perspective on involvement with the two national world events broadcasters and commended the ABC 12. increased support is needed for Check and SBS for giving Indigenous people a regional and rural reporting, including “leg up”. She noted that it was an ABC funds for outside broadcasts of events archivist who recorded vital aspects out our such as the Byron Writers Festival and of the Bundjalung language and projects like ABC Open. acknowledged the worth of programs 13. the public should have more such as Message Stick on ABC. She Website! direct input into programming referred to institutional racism in decisions the Australian media and made the Mayor of Lismore (Jenny Dowell) suggestion that the SBS program “Go kept speakers on track and the Back to Where You Came From” could audience (including Kerry O’Brien) have included an Indigenous person to s Want information on the provided lively discussion on the add another perspective. latest issues? issues raised. There were fi fty people John Arkan spoke about programs s Need a printable in attendance. The organizers had that featured the Woolgoolga Sikh membership application? hoped for more support from branch community of which he is a leader. members and members of the public, He explained how ABC and SBS bring s Current and past issues of given the excellent coverage provided people of diverse backgrounds together Update? in local newspapers and radio stations. to celebrate being Australian and help The acoustics in the A and I Hall were Australians to develop a collective s Who to write to? greatly appreciated and a professional intelligence on what is seen in Asia as sound system added to the ambience of “the big island down under”. Go to: the event. We appreciate the fi nancial Penny Fox used a stick of celery and a www.fabcnsw.org.au support provided by FABC NSW Inc. bunch of celery as props to show how Our youngest speaker Maia Ryall the national broadcasters cost less than Or check out the National Portal mentioned the importance educational their commercial counterparts. Penny (links to all states): programs as a source of information made a number of suggestions drawn and noted the signifi cance of “Triple from her surveys of senior citizens in www.friendsoftheabc.org.au J Unearthed” for aspiring musicians. her own and nearby U3A groups. There She placed a strong focus on the was specifi c concern expressed about Page 11

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National Web Portal links Central Coast Illawarra Queensland – FABC to all State Branches. Co-convenors: Jan Kent (Secretary) Professor Alan Knight Klaas Woldring Friends of the ABC Illawarra Creative Industries Faculty QUT Go to: Phone: 4341 5170 PO Box 336, Unanderra 2526 GPO Box 2434 www.friendsoftheabc.org.au [email protected] Phone/Fax: 4271 3531 Brisbane 4001 [email protected] [email protected] New South Wales Paula Murray [email protected] Mal Hewitt (President) FABC NSW Phone 4385 3783 Mid North Coast PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 [email protected] Drusi Megget South Australia – FABC Phone: 9637 2900 24 Arncliffe Ave Anne Levy [email protected] Cowper Port Macquarie NSW 2444 PO Box 7158 Hutt St Joyce Gardner (Secretary) Phone: 6583 8798 Adelaide SA 5000 ACT and Region 7 Royal Tar Crescent [email protected] Phone: 08 8232 5075 Margaret O’Connor Nambucca Heads NSW 2448 [email protected] Phone: 0422 975 848 Phone: 6568 7532 Northern Rivers [email protected] [email protected] Neville Jennings Western Australia – FABC PO Box 1484 Kingscliff 2487 Harry Cohen Phone/Fax: 6674 3830 (H) Armidale Eastern Suburbs PO Box 534 [email protected] Val Sherwell (Secretary) Nizza Siano (Secretary) Subiaco WA 6904 167 Markham Street 16 Holland Rd Byron Bay Sub-branch convenor [email protected] Armidale NSW 2350 Bellevue Hill NSW 2023 Jill Keogh Phone: 6772 0342 Phone/Fax: 9327 3423 Phone: 6688 4558 Tasmania – FABC [email protected] [email protected] Melissa Sharpe Parramatta PO Box 301 Bruce Hansell (President) Great Lakes & Manning Valley Mal Hewitt North Hobart TAS 7002 Phone: 6775 1889 Margaret Gardner 31 Queen St Granville 2142 Phone: 0427 041 161 [email protected] PO Box 871 Forster NSW 2428 Phone: 9637 2900 [email protected] Ph: 6554 9181 (H) 6591 3704 (W) [email protected] Blue Mountains [email protected] FABC RESOURCE CENTRE Tony Tayler Victoria – FABC Darce Cassidy 15 Spencer Street Hunter www.friendsoftheabc.org Leura NSW 2780 Glenys Stradijot - Campaign Manager Allan Thomas Phone: 4784 3642 Friends of the ABC (Vic) c/o PO Box 265 [email protected] GPO Box 4065 Merewether NSW 2291 Melbourne VIC 3001 Phone: 4930 7309 Phone: (03) 9682 0073 [email protected] [email protected]

Membership Form NOT for membership renewal Please fill out the form below and return it – use only if joining. with your payment to: The Treasurer, Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. Existing members please await reminder notice PO Box 1391, North Sydney NSW 2059. in mail on subscription due date.

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Age to 30 31-50 51+ I would like to receive my copy of Update Magazine electronically My details will be passed on to my local FABC branch. (Strike out if you disagree) 1yr. 3yrs. Individual $20 $55 I am paying by cheque in favour of FABC (NSW) Inc. Family/Household $25 $70 visa mastercard money order Student $15 $40 Card Number Pensioner (or Pensioner couple) $15 $40 Name on credit card Corporate (covers 3 people) $60 - Expiry date I would like to make a donation $______Cardholder S ignature Date Total $ ______

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