UpdateDecember 2018 Vol 26, No. 3 Thrice Yearly Newsletter We Say Hands off Our ABC Full reports on both Melbourne and Sydney rallies on page 4 and 5. Inside Update Christaan Cartledge, ABC Friends 10 The ABC needs grown-ups in charge 16 From the Editor 2 Walter Bass - Founder of the Friends of the ABC 11 Shenanigans at Ultimo’s Level 14 18 Melbourne Town Hall Rally 4 Dr Tanja Meyerhofer’s address to How ‘TRUMPISM’ is affecting Sydney Rally to Save the ABC 5 NSW Friends State Conference 12 the ABC 19 Kerry O’Brien’s Address 6 ABC Loathed in the Asia Pacific Labor will restore ABC shortwave Launch of ABC Alumni 7 - by the Morrison Government 14 radio to NT 20 ABC Friends rejects Prime Minister’s From the National President 8 State News 21 plans to commercialise Pacific The Wentworth By-election 9 broadcasting 15 NSW Branch News 27 Update From the Editor Publication Information (and National Vice-President) Update is published three times a year by ABC Friends National Inc. GPO Box 4065 Melbourne Vic 3001 Rallies, Protests and Activism booth. Friends NSW President, Prof Ed Print Post approved: PP245059/00002. by ABC Friends. Davis, a resident of Wentworth, ably led the Friends campaign, and lessons Extracts from newspapers and other The people of Australia have sent a learned in Wentworth will be useful as we publications appearing in Update do very strong and clear message to the not necessarily reflect the views of the plan our Marginal Seats Campaign in the Morrison Coalition Government in members of ABC Friends. forthcoming Federal election. Ed’s report Canberra – “Hands Off Our ABC!” Many Update is distributed to all members of on that campaign may be read in these thousands of ordinary Australians rallied ABC Friends as part of the membership pages. fee. Update is also supplied to in our capital cities and regional centres journalists, politicians and libraries in July to express their outrage at the It may be no surprise for you to read that across Australia. devastating cuts to the ABC budget further cuts to the ABC in the May 2018 Update is edited and produced in since 2014, the loss of almost 1,000 Budget, and the increasingly strident Sydney and contributions are welcome staff and many programs, the constant attacks on the ABC from Government from state and regional branches. Email members and Rupert Murdoch’s News your contribution (in Microsoft Word) to attacks on the ABC by Government [email protected] or members, and endless debilitating Ltd. have resulted in unprecedented post to address below inquiries. The message is clear – do growth in membership of ABC Friends as Material may be quoted or reproduced not interfere with the independence of Australians ask themselves the question: from Update provided the source is the ABC, and its ability to report and “Where would we be without our ABC?” acknowledged and reproduction is sent comment fairly, objectively and impartially We warmly welcome all new members to the Editor at the above email or postal address. at all times and on all matters, without of Friends, and thank you for the many fear of government pressure and threats. thousands of dollars which have been Would you like to receive We report on those rallies in this Update. donated to the fight to keep our ABC Update newsletter Several recent by-elections, culminating strong and free of political interference. electronically? in the Wentworth by-election to replace You have enabled Friends to be a very Save the planet’s trees and ABC Friends’ Malcolm Turnbull, have featured real presence and force in the Federal printing and postage costs and read the ABC as a major election issue, Election, which could be as soon as Update on your tablet or computer. When March 2019. Update is published, you will receive an and sent a very clear warning to the email with a link to the latest issue (each government – “Hands Off Our ABC!” newsletter is a 2-3MB PDF). In Wentworth particularly, one of the Turmoil at the Top of the ABC You can try this now by going to safest Liberal seats in the country, was The sacking of Managing Director www.fabcnsw.org.au and clicking on won by Independent Dr Kerryn Phelps, Michelle Guthrie and resignation of Board “Newsletter”. If you prefer this delivery herself a strong ABC supporter. ABC option for future Updates please contact Chairman Justin Milne have shone a very your local state branch (see back page). Friends had a high profile throughout bright light on the leadership conflict at the campaign and on election day, and the top. It is hoped that lessons have Who to write… we thank all who worked so hard and been learned, as Friends have been Anyone seeking basic information about gave so many hours to ensure that a openly critical of the politicisation of the writing to persons of influence might find properly funded and independent ABC ABC, the pressure being placed on the it helpful to go to www.fabcnsw.org.au was foremost in the minds of Wentworth ABC by the various Government inquiries, where there are some menu items voters as they went into the polling under “Be Active” leading to pages of and the continuing attempts to pressure information: Who can I write to? What management and directors to bend to the can I say? will of Government, including changing the Charter to suit political ends. Update Editor - Mal Hewitt Fundamental to the health and PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 independence of the ABC is the [email protected] adherence to a Board selection process Assistant Editor - which is at arm’s length from the Angela Williamson incumbent government. Clearly, that [email protected] does not apply to the current ABC Board, Cartoonist - Phil Somerville most of whom are appointments by the Phil currently runs an online topical minister rather than the product of a cartoon by paid subscription called Line rigorous selection process, and it is rather of Thought. Enquire at phil.somerville@ difficult to determine what they bring to somervillecartoons.com the position in terms of background and Layout Artist - Paul Martens Ed Davis and Angela Williamson experience useful to a public broadcaster. [email protected] working hard during the Wentworth ABC Friends is hopeful that out of the By-election. wreckage of recent events will emerge Page 2 changes and improvements to the process The Prime Minister’s Pacific did more damage to Australia’s national of selection of the Chair, appointment of Announcement interest than he will ever be capable of Board Members and adjustments to the understanding.” Management structure which will result in Prime Minister Morrison’s announcement More coverage of this issue can be found a politically independent, properly funded on 8th November of his plans to support in this Update. and courageous ABC, serving the interests our commercial media broadcasting into the Pacific could well be regarded by of all Australians. The health of our Farewell Chris Cartledge democracy depends upon it. Pacific governments and communities as a hostile act. Why would anybody want NSW technology and management guru Labor Promises to Restore to inflict our ghastly commercial media Chris Cartledge is stepping down from Short Wave to Remote Australia and their relentless product advertising the various positions he has held in ABC upon unsuspecting viewers and listeners Friends for many years. We have all On 19th November, Labor made a promise in Pacific islands? Especially as, until benefited hugely from his vast experience that, if elected to government in 2019, it 2014, our ABC provided world news, and expertise, and the unfailing generosity would provide $2m to restore the ABC current affairs, entertainment and, most with which he shared both. National shortwave radio service to outback areas importantly, emergency information President Margaret Reynolds farewelled through the transmitters in Alice Springs, and bulletins via television (the Australia Chris with these words: Tennant Creek and Darwin. Network) and radio (Radio Australia), on a “Chris Cartledge was a wonderfully Since the service was turned off by short wave signal that was reliable, even supportive member of the inaugural ABC Management in February 2017, when the cyclones raged. National Committee. He led the many thousands of residents of remote DF wrote to Crikey on 12th November: work to establish a national website, Australia and travellers have been denied “When I was working in Vientiane in Laos, managing logistical challenges with an essential service – news, weather Radio Australia was beamed in on FM96, quiet determination, focussing only on a and road information, sport broadcasts, clear as a bell. In a Communist country, it positive outcome for us. music, entertainment and emergency was a welcome relief for the locals from information in an area especially prone to As a committee member Chris was the Government propaganda. In addition, invaluable in summarising the issue and cyclones. City-dwellers should understand people used to tune in to the learning suggesting our best strategy. We greatly that the short wave signal, although “old English shows. When people praise Julie value the skills and advice that Chris technology,” works in all weathers and Bishop (who supported the turnoff) as a contributed to ABC Friends National. I will conditions, has a range of at least 1,000k good Foreign Minister, I can only think their miss his charm and insights, but wish him and can be received by a hand-held radio perspective is from someone who has a relaxed and satisfying retirement.” costing less than $100. never lived outside Australia.