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. I have deeply appreciated Chris’s support ABC Friends has tirelessly lobbied ABC When I worked in Fiji, and stayed overnight in the role of Assistant Editor, Update, but Management and government members in remote villages, I was woken every I warmly welcome Angela Williamson to for restoration of the service, but until now morning by the sounds of Radio Australia’s that position, ably supported by D Diana our pleas on behalf of those dependent on news broadcasts coming floating across Wyndham as chief proof-reader. short wave have fallen on deaf ears. We the village from the radios in people’s applaud the promise from the ALP – you homes. will find their Press Release in this edition Mal Hewitt of Update. When Prime Minister Abbott cut Radio National Vice-President Australia and Australia Network TV, he ABC Friends

Page 3 Melbourne Town Hall Rally 15 July

Leonie Millar, Vice President, ABC Friends, Victoria

hat a great day it was! A capacity crowd of over 2,500, banners Wand placards, great videos, a stirring song, passionate speakers and unanimous endorsement of our resolution. There was a panel of four – Fiona Stanley, Magda Szubanski, Jon Faine and Margaret Reynolds chaired by Peter Greste. All were passionate in their defence of, and support for the ABC, noting that the ABC is integral to the social and cultural life of Australia, emphasising the role played in the capacity Peter Greste addresses the crowd. to hold governments to account for their actions in an independent way, the development of new talent, in emergency This meeting of friends and supporters • That the ABC resumes its important role services and in promotion of community of the ABC demands the following: as Australia’s voice into Asia and the relationships in the Asia Pacific region, Pacific with sufficient funding to ensure until, that is, this role was curtailed by the • A clear commitment from all political in-depth reporting into the region, as Abbott Government’s cuts. parties and individual politicians that the ABC will not be sold off or privatised well as coverage back to Australians, of Additional speakers and input from the international news events. audience made it clear that the destruction • That additional funding will be provided In Victoria we are now doing our best to of the ABC would be a tragedy, something to allow the ABC to meet its Charter keep this fight front of mind through ads in akin to the loss of a limb. As Robert requirements to service the needs of all trains, a presence at markets and public Manne said “there are many battles that Australians meetings, meetings with politicians, and liberal minded Australians need to fight … • That the independence of the ABC generally gearing up to keep the future of almost none is more vital …than the fight Board and Management, as set down in the ABC as an important election issue. to save our public broadcaster, the ABC.” the ABC Act of 1983, be adhered to Recent events mean that we need to A major achievement was the leader of the • That the governance of the ABC in the maintain pressure on the major parties Opposition, Bill Shorten, committing the interests of our democratic principles be – on the ALP to honour or improve its ALP to support for our resolution which clearly independent of any political or commitment to funding and on the reads as follows: external interference LNP to reverse its current positions.

Page 4 Sydney Rally to Save the ABC 9 July

Prof Ed Davis AM, NSW President

he Sydney Rally was the first of a series of rallies organised by ABC TFriends and held around Australia. The rallies were held to protest against federal government planned budget Above: Article from the Sydney cuts to the ABC, the establishment of Morning Hearald covering the event. government inquiries designed to weaken The rally achieved strong coverage the the ABC, a stream of attacks on it by the next day in the SMH, Australian and Minister for Communications and other Guardian. The SMH had a half page Ministers, and a decision by the Liberal photo, showing the packed auditorium Party’s National Council to sell-off the and there was extensive and favourable ABC. coverage in the Australian and Guardian. The NSW Teachers Federation venue This was very important in taking the was selected because, in addition to strong message to the government: “Don’t the auditorium, it has a large overflow mess with the ABC”. room, which could receive a video stream The rally passed the following motion, of the event. The Teachers Federation unanimously and with great enthusiasm: provided extraordinary and very generous This meeting of ABC Friends demands that support. I thanked their Vice President, the Turnbull government restore funding Tim Mulroy, at the beginning of the rally for the ABC to 2013 levels and commits to and he spoke briefly, confirming his union’s funding certainty for the ABC. We demand strong support and its endorsement of a that the government implements policies motion demanding that the ABC should be to ensure the independent governance properly funded and independent. and operation of the ABC. This meeting The four main speakers were: Phillip calls on the leaders of all political parties Adams, Late Night Live; Tom Keneally, to demonstrate their unequivocal support iconic author; Kerry O’Brien, former host for these steps. The ABC must be well Above: Phillip Adams. of 7.30 and Four Corners; and Magda funded. It must have certainty of funding. It Below: Kerry O’Brien, Magda Szubanski, actor and author. Additional must be independent. Szubanski and Tom Keneally. addresses were given by Ebony Bennett, Australia Institute; Katelin McInerney, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance and Sinddy Ealy, Commonwealth Public Sector Union. Their organisations had partnered ABC Friends in this campaign. A late addition to the line-up was Julian Morrow, from The Chaser and Checkout. A feature of the rally was delightful music organised by Mal Hewitt, at the beginning, middle and end. There was an overwhelming response to invitations to the rally and the auditorium and overflow room were packed with people sitting on the auditorium stairs and on the floor in front of the stage. The speakers delivered stirring addresses and these were met with enthusiastic applause

Page 5 the nation most of the time. Independent survey after independent survey, over many years now, has measured a far higher degree of trust and regard for the ABC than any other institution in the country - public or private. Credibility and trust in the public domain do not come easily. Particularly in this day and age. The ABC has earned that trust, time and time again. (Kerry turned his attention to the IPA’s Against Public Broadcasting, written by Chris Berg and Sinclair Davidson) We all know, even two blinkered economists like Berg and Davidson, that the kinds of quality programs that are Don’t a fundamental part of the ABC brand and a part of its charter are expensive - programs like Four Corners and Screw with 7.30 and Australian Story and Foreign Correspondent. Do they survive in the fractured marketplace of the digital age? And if they don’t survive, does it matter? the People’s ABC Berg and Davidson would say no, because you can find quality all over YouTube if you want. Just dial it up. I’m not sure about the YouTube Four Corners or the YouTube Kerry O’ Brien’s has honest intent, and not a hidden 7.30, but they say you’ll find something agenda driven either by political prejudice of quality somewhere. It may or may not Address to the Sydney or by ideology or by commercial interests. be relevant to Australia but that doesn’t Rally, 8 July 2018: And, of course there’s the constant matter. Maybe it’ll even be well-researched vigilance from News Ltd’s ABC re- and well-sourced. Even factual. Or not. Selected Extracts. education committee, ably led by Andrew How will you know what to trust? Bolt, Piers Ackerman, Miranda Devine, So, imagine Four Corners has disappeared Janet Albrechtsen and the rest. Boringly The technology that spawned the ABC and you’re looking for something to fill repetitive. Dripping with poison. was radio. When television came along the void that you won’t actually find on the same arguments about the same need The ABC is the most scrutinised institution YouTube or Netflix. Well the Sunday for the quality and diversity of product in this country. And yet, somehow, with program on the Nine Network on Sunday applied. Now the internet is the new its unique reach across the nation from mornings used to be pretty good. But technology, so there are more platforms its radio, its television and its on line that’s gone. Unviable in today’s disrupted for delivery but the same arguments presence, it manages to please most of industry. Sixty Minutes used to be pretty about the need for ABC content apply. In good - about 20 years ago, but it’s gone some ways even more. This is the era of more and more down market. There’s fake news, where the kind of integrity, of always Sunday Night on the Seven credibility, of trust that is the ABC’s stock Network as an alternative. That’s the in trade, is needed more than ever. program that paid Barnaby Joyce and I’m not sure about Vikki Campion $150,000 for their self- I don’t have a problem with any process serving interview. Oh well, never mind. that is genuinely about keeping the ABC the YouTube Four honest. For many, many Australians it is And when 7.30 disappears, where do a critically important public institution. It Corners or the viewers turn then? Well, Nine has A is funded by taxpayers. It should have YouTube 7.30, but Current Affair. I can remember Ray Martin oversight. And it does. From its own telling me once over dinner when I was at Government-appointed board for a start - they say you’ll 7.30 and he was anchoring ACA, that they from the Department, from the Australian avoided politics there as much as possible Communications and Media Authority, find something because every time they had a politician and from those endless Senate Estimates of quality on they knew they’d automatically lose at hearings. It answers to the Parliament. least two ratings points. And when they It answers directly to its critics. It should somewhere. had to have those interviews, they’d keep have scrutiny. So long as the scrutiny them as short as possible. And Ray was being applied to the ABC is itself honest, and is a serious journalist. So, no 7.30, no and the government driving that scrutiny more politicians held to account on any

Page 6 sort of regular basis. What about AM and PM and the World Today on ABC Radio. Do you think John Singleton would find a place for them alongside Alan Jones and LAUNCH of Ray Hadley. A natural fit there. Tom Switzer (has also been mounting a) case for privatising the ABC. Part of ABC ALUMNI his case was to name eight ABC people who had worked for Labor politicians or represented Labor in Parliament. I was submission to the current one, and Maxine McKew was another. Matthew Peacock Senate inquiry, after lobbying Journalist, Author, Switzer didn’t apply the same measure to secure wide terms of Former Staff-Elected to ABC journalists with conservative reference. Director on the ABC Board connections but I will. We want to ensure future It took me no time at all to compile a list Board appointments are free going well beyond eight. An impressive from political interference and number worked for conservative prime he next few months are potentially that Directors have experience ministers going all the way back to the ABC’S most important in in and commitment to public Menzies and Holt (Tony Eggleton), Malcolm Tdecades. media. And we want to ensure Fraser (Owen ‘Ocker’ Lloyd and Jim It is at its most vulnerable – rudderless, greater funding certainty for the Bonner), John Howard (Gary Dawson), with a discredited Board, a hostile ABC, with the recent Budget Tony Abbott (Mark Simkin), and Malcolm Government and feral Murdoch cuts reversed. Above all we Turnbull (Simkin and Hayden Cooper). 7.30 opponents. It’s still reeling from savage need to support the continuing staff Report’s Business Editor, Mark Westfield cuts and organisational shake-ups, and at the ABC, who feel beleaguered and also worked for Turnbull when he was is facing a media revolution. demoralised and are now working in Opposition Leader. Pru Goward, who was an organisation that’s suffered huge The staff keeps the shows on air despite disruption. the state-based 7.30 Report’s Canberra all this, but it’s getting harder. During correspondent before Paul Lyneham, has the past few years around a fifth of the ABC Alumni can provide advice, been a Liberal MP in the NSW Parliament ABC’s staff have been made redundant assistance and speakers for ABC for years, and now a Minister. Sarah or have left. Friends; we can collaborate during Henderson who worked with me for the election campaigns, as we did in the national 7.30 Report in its early years Which is why ABC Alumni has been recent Wentworth by-election, where went into federal Parliament as the Liberal formed (www.ABCAlumni.net).Its aim is the pro-ABC stance of the independent member for Corangamite. Paul Davey, who to harness the knowledge, commitment candidate Kerryn Phelps clearly worked in the ABC’s Canberra bureau for and affection felt by thousands of helped her to capture a seat from the radio current affairs in the late seventies, ex-staff for the ideals of quality public conservatives for the first time in its left to become the National Director of the broadcasting – free, fearless, ethical and history. National Party. There are many more. independent. We hope also to forge a strong alliance with the ABC’s existing We are still a fledgling organisation with Mark Simkin was the ABC’s chief national supporters – the Friends, the unions, virtually no money and rely totally on political correspondent when he joined other public media, academics and voluntary efforts, so we do need help. Tony Abbott. His journalism up to that politicians – to ensure that at the next But in the months ahead, we hope to point was straight down the middle. So election and those to follow it is clear organise a national network in all capital was Hayden Cooper’s at 7.30, and that’s that Australian voters want the ABC to cities and across regional Australia. And the relevant issue. That’s the benchmark. continue as a vital part of our culture and of course we also hope to organise Fair enough that their professional community. social events, where former ABC staff connection to a political party should draw can catch up with their old friends, relax some scrutiny, but they should be judged In a few short months we have signed and swap notes. on their journalism, not their professional up nearly 200 former ABC staff and At our recent official launch at the ABC association with a political entity. Sarah associates, and we have a great in Ultimo, the acting Managing Director Henderson couldn’t have been more many more supporters. Some were David Anderson wished us well and professional in our Melbourne office before already hard at work trying to rebuild urged Alumni to continue their support she went into politics as a Liberal MP, and the vandalised public broadcasting for the ABC. the same was true for Maxine McKew effort the ABC had built in Asia and before she ran for Bennelong in 2007 especially in the Pacific. Some are Former 7:30 host Kerry O’Brien left and unseated John Howard. about to provide training, mentoring little doubt how urgent the need is and editorial reviews for the continuing to mobilise support. The ABC is at a staff, with the assistance of ABC critical time. The next few months will Update congratulates Kerry on his new management. We have already decide whether it continues to be one of book, A Memoir, launched by Gleebooks prepared Alumni submissions for the Australia’s most trusted and cherished on 20 November. ABC Friends are Government’s review into this, as well as institutions, or falls victim to the attacks partnering with Gleebooks to support its competitive neutrality review. Others that have seen media organisations this event. have collaborated to write the Alumni throughout the world crumble.

Page 7 to guide the ABC through a complex Peter Doherty, Quentin Dempster, Fred period of media disruption and change.” Chaney, Marcia Langton, Saul Eslake, From the ABC Friends considers it is well placed Julian Burnside, Gillian Triggs and Tony to gauge community opinion about this Windsor. appointment because it has a track record The opening up of this somewhat National of working with the community to defend secretive process is entirely appropriate the ABC. because all Australians, not the President Recent ABC turmoil with the removal government of the day, are shareholders of the former ABC Managing Director in the ABC so are entitled to have a say Michelle Guthrie and the resignation of eople’s choice not “captain’s pick” about who is chosen to lead it. ABC Chair Justin Milne highlights the need - Professor Fiona Stanley a trusted ABC Friends National will be closely for a highly respected and experienced ABC Board Chair! P person to negotiate a period of calm for monitoring the ABC Board appointment In October ABC Friends National invited the national broadcaster. process in coming weeks to ensure that community nominations for a person legislative requirements are scrupulously Over a three week period ABC Friends committed to independent public followed by Mr Morrison and his received over 50 nominations naming broadcasting to be considered as Chair of advisers. many eminent Australians and including the ABC Board. a number of respected current staff. ABC Friends already has received The Federal Government had asked a The community engaged in this process support in several by-elections Sydney-based recruitment agency to because they are concerned about campaigning with the slogan seek suitable candidates for consideration yet another “captain’s pick“- perhaps “VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE YOU by the Nomination Panel before an someone with corporate credentials but TRUST WITH YOUR ABC” appointment is made by the Prime limited media experience or commitment Now, the Federal Government and Minister with agreement from the Leader to public broadcasting. of the Opposition. Leader of the Opposition have the The most frequently nominated individual opportunity to ensure that the New ABC Friends National wanted community was Professor Fiona Stanley who has Chair of the ABC Board is a trusted support to help prepare a short list of experience as an ABC Board Member as Australian who will be a strong advocate suitably qualified Australians to present to well as being a highly respected medical for public broadcasting, a champion for ensure that a diverse range of individuals professional and academic. She was an its independence and a defender against was fully considered by Scott Morrison Australian of the Year 2003 and National political interference or manipulation. and his counterpart Bill Shorten. Living Treasure 2014 and is now the National President Margaret Reynolds said People’s Choice as a leading contender to Below is an advert that was run in “The Chair of the ABC must be a person become Chair of the ABC Board. Short- Margaret Reynolds the Wentworth Courier prior to the with a commitment to independent public listed nominees included Michael Kirby, President Wentworth By-election. broadcasting and trusted by Australians Kerry O’Brien, Malcolm Long, Tim Fischer, ABC Friends National Inc.

My vote is for the ote or te Wentworth ABC Candidate o By-election rst it r ABC

The ABC is Australia’s most valued and trusted institution. Under the Coalition government it has suffered: ✗ Crippling budget cuts, with more ahead ✗ Constant political attacks and interference ✗ Liberal Party calls for the ABC to be sold. If you believe that strong and independent public broadcasting is important then send a message to all political parties: Authorised by Margaret Whealy, 1 Kings Cross Road VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE YOU TRUST WITH OUR ABC Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

Page 8 speak to me, I received an email from the Liberal Wentworth campaign office which emphasised the Liberal Party’s support for the ABC. The email stated: The ABC is a vital public news and cultural institution that strengthens media diversity and represents the largest and most important Commonwealth contribution to civic journalism. The Government has a very clear policy regarding the ownership arrangements of the ABC – it is and always will remain a public broadcaster. It will never be privatised nor sold. This is our clear commitment…The Liberal Government stands for an ABC that is independent, appropriately funded and Sybille Frank, Robert Gubbins, Ed Davis, Meredith Pragerat on the day. publicly owned. Friends may need to remind the Liberal Party of these commitments in the future. Friends’ How to Vote card The Wentworth placed Dave Sharma in the “low level of support for the ABC” column on By-election the basis of the Liberal Party’s major funding cuts to the ABC, the • Design and establishment of Professor Ed Davis AM distribution inquiries designed to President of NSW Friends of a flyer at undermine the ABC, market stalls relentless attacks on and railway the ABC from the he polls closed on 20 October stations Communications Minister and other and the ABC’s renowned Anthony Ministers, the vote at the Liberal Party’s • Development of a scorecard based on TGreen called the result after just National Conference in June to sell-off candidates’ views and other evidence over an hour of counting. Polling on the the ABC and apparent interference with on support for the ABC- this became day showed extraordinary and consistent ABC management and governance. swings of 20-25% against the Liberal Party the How to Vote card Looking back on the campaign, it is candidate, Dave Sharma. Independent • A social media/video interview on the difficult to evaluate the impact of either and high-profile candidate Dr Kerryn ABC with Independent Licia Heath the Wentworth Courier or Facebook Phelps appeared likely to be a clear winner. • Ads designed for the Wentworth Courier ads. Certainly, the ads in the paper were Commentators on the ABC and in the and placed on Facebook expensive, at $4000 for two half page following day’s newspapers dwelt on the ads; this was approximately half the total historic swing against the government. • Promotion of the campaign on social amount spent! The strongest impression The swing appeared to be around 22%, media was that Friends made the most impact smashing the previous swing of 16% in • Attendance at candidate forums and where we handed out flyers and How to Canberra in 1995. However, counting of raising ABC issues Vote cards and engaged in conversation postal ballots led to a revision of the result, • Attendance at pre-polling and staffing 8 with voters. Additional benefits included as early postal ballots strongly favoured “busy” booths on the day. the number of people who told us of Sharma. The final result was a victory for their passion for the ABC and their Phelps by a margin of 51%-49%, two-party Approximately thirty Friends were involved willingness to join the Friends. preferred, reflecting a swing of 19% against in the spread of activities, with Sybille the Liberal Party. Frank coordinating who did what, where It is possible that Friends’ involvement and when. Among lessons learned was in this by-election contributed to the ABC Friends were active in the campaign. the importance of Friends’ contact with the ousting of the Liberal Party candidate Activities included: candidates. The Labor, Green and leading and the making of political history. • The development of a short Independents (Heath and Phelps) made For certain, a strong message was sent questionnaire for candidates, seeking regular and well reported references to the to all political parties that voters demand their views on a range of ABC-related importance of proper funding for the ABC a well-funded, strong and independent issues e.g. restoration of funding and and their determination to see restoration ABC and they will punish those parties independence of funding to pre-Abbott government that attack and undermine public levels. While the Liberal candidate chose • Face-to-face or phone interviews with broadcasting in Australia. the main candidates not to return the questionnaire and did not

Page 9 National Web manager, ABC National launch from a safe and steady Friends’ NSW&ACT Web platform. Manager, former Membership At no time has anything ever been too Secretary, former Update much for Chris, always willing to help, Assistant Editor, Liaison for advise, recommend, and provide step- Access Database, Illawarra by-step processes to ensure our chain Branch President, etc., etc. of volunteers has the best path to follow and ensure a seamless environment for or close on two decades Chris our members and various committees’ Cartledge has been a stalwart of members. We have indeed been fortunate, FABC Friends NSW & ACT, and for and his departure from our ranks with his the last eighteen months he has been non-existent ego are already dimming the a mainstay of the developments in all lights. manner of ways with the creation of ABC Angela Williamson Friends National. We could have a plethora of tributes to Chris is still working on the project called Chris, but this Update issue will contain NationBuilder which will see ABC Friends itself to one more (below) from the National cohere nationally in databases person who has probably enjoyed the of members, facilitation of interactions most benefit from Chris’s contribution to on our website, and handle a multiplicity our organisation. Herewith the words of of queries, host shopping for our Update Editor Mal Hewitt, OAM: merchandise, engage with all social media, enable membership additions and updates Christaan CHRIS CARTLEDGE – a Tribute to be co-ordinated more smoothly. This The Macquarie Dictionary definition of a work is ongoing, and is expected to be polymath is “a person of great and varied completed by mid-2019. Chris will see this Cartledge, learning,” and I can think of no person work through to its completion. more worthy of that title than our retiring Prior to this, Chris was sole creator and ABC Friends Web Manager, former Membership maintainer of the ABC Friends NSW & Secretary, Assistant Editor of Update ACT website, a significant job that has and Illawarra Branch President, Chris been much appreciated by all online Cartledge. Throughout my ten years as members in our part of the world. All of it ABC Friends NSW President and Editor is run from his computer and none of us of Update, Chris was beside me, willingly NSW&ACT people wants it to vaporise. No challenge and generously sharing his many and It’s probably perceived as unconventional was ever beyond varied skills, his vast knowledge and his in nowadays’ terms, but it is a great breadth of experience in support of me resource, appreciated by NSW & ACT Chris, even if it and in service to his beloved ABC Friends. members, especially with its currency of meant countless His recent award of a Life Membership is news items. Since 2013 our members some recognition of his huge contribution have been able to log in there and renew hours of his time... to Friends. their memberships; new people can join Chris’s working life as a Telecom/Telstra as well. technician and Technical Manager through Chris maintained the NSW & ACT the years of computerisation and the Committee Contact list, circulating each revolution in technology equipped him year. For a time in the ‘noughties’ he has maintained and added to all his IT well to fill vital and essential roles, first looked after our Membership database, knowledge from his career, and provided with NSW Friends and then with the new before handing over to Angela, whose those skills to explore the options available National Friends, leading us through the nine-year tenure of the role was to ABCF, whether that be extracts from the maze as we successfully adopted new punctuated by back up from Chris database, into excel, and manipulating the technologies. whenever she was away from her ‘desk’. resultant files or teaching one of us how to No challenge was ever beyond Chris, Chris has maintained the virtue of ABC do the same sorts of things. even if it meant countless hours of his time Friends NSW & ACT during James His work in developing the business in solving a problem, establishing a new Buchanan’s Secretary & Treasurer-ship model of ABC Friends National has been system, or making existing systems work and beyond into Margaret Whealy’s invaluable. He has been the lynchpin for better. A phone call requesting his help time. As well, Chris has held the role of many facets of this tortuous process. was always met with “Sure thing, Mal – Update Assistant Editor for some years, The tributes that have flowed from the when do you want it?” keeping ‘the back page’ current, offering personnel in all States and Territories commentary on inclusions and exclusions once Chris advised he would be stepping Chris, you have earned your retirement to the Editor, seeking items from papers, down, are indicative of how much Chris’s from ABC Friends – very best wishes to photos of pertinent people, liaised with quiet, unobtrusive and carefully considered you and Julie as you pursue your printing companies, and so on. Chris contributions have seen ABC Friends many other interests.

Page 10 Corin suggested to Bassie that FABC should garner support from ‘big names’ and publicise the responses. He wrote the letter which was signed by 13 Australian icons: Patrick White, His Honour Mr Justice Michael Kirby, Nigel Butterley, Frank Moorehouse, Patricia Lovell, C. J. Koch, Lloyd Rees, The Hon James McClelland, Edmund Campion, Les Murray, Thomas Keneally, Nancy Keesing, Her Honour Judge Elizabeth Evatt. … [W]e refuse to believe that a society capable of producing the diverse talents that Australia is now doing cannot maintain a national broadcasting service devoted to cultural quality… The ABC was once truly the voice of Australia; now we switch on to the tones of trendy hucksters who are not even good at selling. … One of the great lies being put about by purveyors of mediocrity is that the ABC should make itself “relevant” by abandoning the transmission of cultured excellence altogether, instead devoting itself to adding Walter Bass, painted yet more “pop” culture to the existing by his wife Corin flood. The broad masses, the lie goes, want nothing else’… (SMH, 12 August Walter Bass 1985) Corin said there were a great many replies from all quarters and it was a real success. Founder of the Bassie was not bothered by his opponents. He was so amused when Mike Carlton wrote ‘What a silly, self-important, Friends of the ABC know-all snob you are’ (and signed it with an impressive flourish at the bottom of the page) that he framed the letter and hung he Friends of the ABC [FABC] “I was born in Vienna during very turbulent it in his office. He thanked Gerald Stone was launched at a public meeting times into a political household [and] for his advice on how to run the ABC on the 20 April 1976 in the was always aware of the great danger a but said one thing bothered him. ‘Why Anzac Auditorium in Sydney, in country is in once its media is threatened. T aren’t there any Friends of 60 Minutes?” response to the Fraser government’s The first thing that always happens in When Gareth Evans (the Minister for threats to the ABC. Five months later, a coup of revolution is that the radio Transport and Communications in the 35,000 supporters had signed a petition stations are attacked and taken”. He Hawke government) informed staff at the in a “grass roots” campaign to secure the finds the most troubling aspect of the ABC of the government’s plans to prune ABC’s independence. The founder was an Australian media is the concentration of the ABC’s charter and possibly introduce innovative thinker who looked like Thomas owners. No organisation which depends advertising, he added that “thuggery” Keneally or a friendly, bearded uncle but no on commercial sponsorship for profit can and ‘street marches” did not impress the one could ignore Walter Bass (known as remain truly free of editorial influence, he Government’. Bassie, who often gave Bassie to his friends) - a compassionate, says. Of course, these highly-paid talk- politicians ‘Save ABC’ stickers to put on feisty man who befriended prime ministers, back kings say no-one ever interferes with their bumper bars, told Senator Evans he premiers and media personalities. For the their freedoms. But the only people they should put the sticker on the dashboard next 20 years he, his wife Corin Fairburn, ever offend are the aged, the infirm and of his car. The Minister was not amused. and a loyal band of supporters tirelessly the poor’. (SMH, 3 March 1988). Bassie commented to the Herald ‘He is a cultivated contacts, identified threats Bassie collected a vast media-related rather humourless man when he’s under to the broadcaster and took steps to archive and, from his encyclopaedic pressure’. combat them. Ten years into his term as knowledge, wrote or spoke, wise, witty In his fight to keep the ABC ad-free the President of FABC (NSW) he was able and succinct responses to questions, Bassie noted ‘The argument that “discreet to intensify his activities when he retired asked politicians provocative questions sponsorship”… would not affect the ABC’s from his job as a surveyor with the Water when they wished he wouldn’t, made current affairs and news operations is like Board. He had come to Australia as a child submissions and lobbied to save the ABC, saying that one needn’t worry about bowel of seven after his parents fled from Nazi- and also tried to right a great number of cancer because it is such a long way from occupied Austria in the late 1930s. He told other wrongs. journalist and broadcaster Andrew West: one’s head’.

Page 11 Bassie met New Zealand-born Corin from him. The paper wrote a profile of Q. Why do you continue whinging? Fairburn when she was 23 and he was him in April 2002, including the results of Why don’t you help others and bring 24. She had come to study piano at the a competition they ran to find the ‘best of happiness to your life? Sydney Conservatorium. After they met Bassie’ questions. Here are some of them A [Corin] Walter is the most humorous, at a friend’s house in the 1950s they and his responses: most effervescent and happy person I have discovered their shared love of music, Q: If you were PM, what would you do ever met. I’ve hardly heard him whinge in married and moved to a purpose-built with budget surpluses? 45 years of marriage. And he’s the funniest house in a bush-land setting in Turramurra man I know. [Walter] I find my happiness in where they raised their three children. A: Disengage Australia from the war on terror immediately, take money from living my life and writing letters. As far as Bassie wrote copious letters to The North community work, I worked for the Friends Shore Times – one reader complained defence and keeping refugees out and put it instead into education and health. of the ABC and, as a surveyor, I have because one issue didn’t have a letter stayed in many country communities.

Legitimacy crisis rattles public service media, not only here in Australia but worldwide

Dr Tanja Meyerhofer, External Senior Researcher urrently, there is an acute sense of pressure from neoliberals and figures on at the European urgency among European public the right fringe of the political spectrum to Broadcasting Union. Cservice media as something, until legitimise their raison d’être. now, unthinkable is happening: public Address to the NSW In Austria, the far-right Freedom Party, service media in some of Europe’s most- which currently governs in coalition Friends’ State Conference, established and longest-standing Western 25 August with the Christian democratic and democracies encounter unprecedented conservative Austrian People’s Party, is in

Page 12 Q. What do you think of your critics? is true, even though I don’t vote for the and with great passion and determination A. They do a great service by giving their Greens. [When asked was he trying to for his beloved ABC’. abuse with no points. I make a lot of points keep the bastards honest? He replied ‘the Bassie would have been delighted by the in my letters, but it shows they have no best way to keep the bastards honest is to magnificent rallies to Save our ABC and to get rid of them’]. point when they don’t ask or answer any know that his baton has been passed to questions. Bassie died on 17 November 2015. That another worthy campaigner – Ed Davis, the night Phillip Adams introduced his program Q. Would you fund an on-going anti- new President of ABC Friends, NSW. with the words ‘the wise and witty Walter salinity rehabilitation program? Bass, dead at 84’. Corin found this ‘a bit A. This is a most important issue because bald for me to hear, but a nice tribute just Diana Wyndham it’s destroying the Murray Basin and our the same’. Mal Hewitt, then the President Committee Member, water supplies, everything the Greens say of FABC (NSW), said he ‘fought tirelessly ABC Friends, NSW

Image Credit: RÚV: Our RÚV – Together Towards The Future, http://www.ruv.is/i- media and poses a very serious threat umraedunni/2021-en for the legitimacy of public service media because it makes it vulnerable to attacks by commercial or political neoliberals who felt being forced to pay a opponents. licence fee for programs that they did not use was unfair. At the same time, these Realising that providing political young people assumed that Swiss public stakeholders with the data necessary service content was so good that it could to confirm that the legal charter easily be self-funded through pay-per-view obligations have been fulfilled, is and with more advertising. Seeing “No no longer sufficient at times when Billag” as an opportunity to lobby against consumers can access a dazzling left-wing journalism and to put forward number of easy-to-access content their conservative ideas, the right-wing options from all around the world, the Swiss People’s Party joined the “No Billag” European Broadcasting Union (EBU) campaign. launched the Public Service Media Contribution to Society initiative in With this political backing, polls in 2015. The purpose of this initiative is to December 2017 predicted that 51% support EBU Members (such as SRG of Swiss would vote for scraping the SSR) in better identifying and explaining license fee. This was a wake-up call for the value and benefits they add to the Swiss public broadcaster, SRG SSR the whole of society. This will enable and it became clear that public service public service media organizations to media is about the society. Therefore, the better respond to criticisms, renew their SRG SSR reached out to the public and legitimacy, and bolster their political, connected with representatives at cultural, market and social support. educational, sporting and grassroots the process of collecting signatures to organisations, with independent producers For more information on the EBU’s abolish the licence fee in an attempt to and other media players to ask for Public Service Media Contribution to exert political pressure on the Austrian support. The “NON à No Billag” movement Society initiative, visit: https://www. public broadcaster ORF. In Denmark, was born. With the strong support of ebu.ch/psm-contribution-society. the conservative-liberal government ambassadors similar to ABC Friends, The European Broadcasting Union is together with the right-wing populist SRG SSR was able to reverse public the world’s leading alliance of public Danish People’s Party announced in opinion. Three months later, in March service media (PSM). It has 119 September that public funds for the 2018, 71.6%of Swiss people voted for the Members in 56 countries in Europe, public broadcaster DR will be cut by 20 continuation of the licence fee1. and an additional 34 Associates in percent over the next five years. These recent developments point to the Asia, Africa, the Americas and here in However, perhaps the most telling key issue public service media is facing Australia. Together, the EBU community example of the legitimacy crisis of nowadays: politicians, market players reaches an audience of more than 1 European public service media is the and, most importantly, the citizens do not billion people around the world. The “No Billag” referendum in Switzerland always understand what public service EBU’s mission is to make public service in March 2018, which also called for media stands for and what value it media indispensable. abolishing the licence fee. The “No delivers. This lack of understanding results 1. https://www.publicmediaalliance.org/ Billag” campaign was initiated by young in a decline in support for public service the-no-billag-swiss-saga/

Page 13 ABC Loathed in the Asia Pacific - by the Morrison Government

by Dr Mark Hayes Dr Hayes worked as researcher, reporter and producer with ABC TV’s 7.30 Report in Brisbane and Darwin. Recently retired, he taught media and journalism at five Australian Universities and University of South Pacific in Suva. His special interests include Pacific Islands media and journalism, climate change in the Pacific and nonviolent social movements.

he Morrison Government has The commercial television lobby group, Free pre-empted its own Review TV Australia, quickly responded. of Australian Broadcasting According to Free TV’s CEO Bridget Fair: TServices in the Asia Pacific by “Free TV broadcasters are the powerhouse declaring that commercial broadcasters of local Australian production. Australia’s will be invited to contribute to a revived commercial television networks invest over Australian broadcasting presence in the $1.6 billion annually in great Australian Pacific. content and deliver the most popular “I’ve been speaking to Free-TV Australia and well-loved programs on television. and the commercial TV networks about More importantly our drama, children’s how we get more of our Australian entertainment, news and sports programs content into the region,” Prime Minister reflect our Australian community and our values. We are excited to be able to share Scott Morrison said in a wide-ranging the best of Australian programming with speech titled Australia and the Pacific: our Pacific neighbours. We look forward to A New Chapter, delivered in Townsville working with the Government to finalise this on 8 November 2018. important initiative.” “Our Pacific family is switching on to the Not even an oblique nod to the ABC, which same stories, news, drama and sports has been broadcasting into the Asia Pacific we are watching at home. What better Region for decades, as part of its Charter way of staying connected than through responsibilities. And certainly no indication the people, the lifestyle and the every- of how this will be paid for. day experiences we are lucky enough to enjoy,” he said. “That’s why I am pleased What is not known by way of publicly released reviews, reports, or detailed, to announce that the Government will referenced, explanations is why PM Abbott be working with our commercial media ordered FM Bishop to unilaterally break the operators to ensure our friends in the DFAT-ABC ten-year $223 million contract Pacific have access to more quality to operate the Asia Pacific Newsroom Australian content on television and other and Australia Network Television, formally platforms. This will include things like announced in the 2014 budget, along with lifestyle programs, news, current affairs, the first major domestic cuts, of $43.5 children’s content, drama and sports million to the ABC and SBS. This was a potentially. This is an initial step towards viciously and brilliantly targeted attack on providing more Australian content that is the ABC, doing catastrophic damage to Dr Mark Hayes climbs the highest highly valued by the Pacific community,” Australia’s soft diplomatic broadcasting point of land on Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu, Mr Morrison said. presence in the Asia Pacific. 3.5 meters above mean high tide.

Page 14 Then the ABC closed its shortwave relevant Departmental web site. There is Further reading – with links services in January, 2017, amidst no indication of when this Inquiry is due to to other useful reports and widespread criticism from both Pacific report to the Government. analysis: Islands countries and remote Australian This Inquiry is proceeding on the “Demise of the Australia Network”, audiences. demonstrably false premise that Australia by Nick Bryant, Lowy Interpreter, 16 This was an ABC decision, saving never had a significant broadcasting May 2014 reportedly $4 million per annum. A Senate presence in the Asia Pacific, but needs Inquiry into this closure could not agree one in the rapidly more contested “soft “International Broadcasting: Raising on how the shortwave service could be diplomacy” space now dominated by Australia’s Pacific Voice”, by Bruce restored. China. Dover and Ian Macintosh, Lowy Interpreter, 14 November, 2018 It’s a decision the Acting ABC MD and A number of major Submissions have been Board could readily reverse, assuming released by the Australian Strategic Policy “Hard News and Free Media as the transmission facilities at Shepperton, Institute and the Lowy Institute, with inputs the Sharp Edge of Australia’s Soft Victoria, were only mothballed and not from highly respected Pacific scholars, Diplomacy”, Graeme Dobell, Geoff demolished, and the required radio analysts, and long-term Pacific specialist Heriot, Jemima Garret, Australian frequencies, quickly occupied by Chinese journalists. Strategic Policy Institute, 26 September, 2018 Radio International, could be retrieved. Among the suggestions is the Subsequently, the government announced establishment of a new Australian “Is Australia losing our soft power in September 2017 that “The Department International Broadcasting Corporation, in the Asia Pacific?” ABC Radio of Communications and the Arts and the or similar, separate from the ABC, RN Late Night Live, 11 October, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and funded by Government, sourcing 2018 – (Jemima Garret and Graeme will conduct a review into the reach of content, including news and current Dobell) https://www.abc.net. Australian broadcasting services in the affairs, from, preferentially, the commercial au/radionational/programs/ Asia Pacific region, including examining broadcasters. latenightlive/losing-our-soft-power- the-the-asia-pacific/10342398 whether shortwave radio technology But, as seems highly likely, the Morrison should be used. The review will include Government will exclude the ABC from any “Walking the Talk: Is Australia’s public consultation and the report of the input into a revived Australian overseas Engagement with the Pacific a ‘Step review will be made public.” Submissions broadcasting presence, yet another Up’ or a Stumble?” Dr Tess Newton to the Inquiry closed on August 18, clear indication of how the Coalition Cain, Cairns Institute Policy 2018, and have yet to be released on the Government loathes the ABC. Papers, November, 2018

Furthermore, professional broadcasting in the Pacific ABC FRIENDS REJECTS depends on two-way respectful communication that enhances understanding of diverse perspectives in the PRIME MINISTERS PLANS region. TO COMMERCIALISE In recent months Pacific leaders have made clear their expectations of Australian/Pacific public broadcasting. PACIFIC BROADCASTING Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwal has called for rebuilding public interest broadcasting. he Prime Minister’s announcement in North In a speech to the Lowy Institute Samoan Prime Minister Queensland today that he plans to commercialise Tuilaepa Sailete called for the Pacific voice to be heard in TPacific broadcasting will not provide quality public Australia and other Pacific leaders have echoed this call, as interest journalism to our Pacific neighbours. well as Secretary General of the South Pacific Forum If Mr Morrison wants to restore a fresh initiative like the Significantly, if Australia were to accept this approach to Australia Network he is dependent on the Australian Pacific broadcasting it would become the only nation to Broadcasting Corporation which has the experience and rely on the commercial sector to deliver its “soft power” professionalism to create strong partnerships with Pacific diplomacy. Just imagine Canada or Britain giving such a nations. significant national task to commercial interests! The voice of Australia through Radio Australia, and more ABC Friends President Margaret Reynolds urged the Prime recently via a wider range of ABC media platforms,has Minister to reconsider this public policy shift and take advice long been valued by people in the Pacific and many ABC from the Department of Foreign Affairs which is more familiar broadcasters have become popular in the region. with the needs of Pacific nations and managing diplomatic Australian foreign policy will not be enhanced by the relations. commercial news judgements of Fox or Sky News, which Margaret Reynolds does not provide independent analysis of complex issues. ABC Friends National President

Page 15 Insiders tell me they are astonished Good riddance at the naivety of some members of the board who, having accepted appointment despite knowing they were to Guthrie and Milne not recommended by the arm’s-length appointment process, are now horrified to find themselves in reputation-damaging The ABC needs dust-up. Despair would be easy, were it not for the fact that the Four Corners program itself – the ABC telling its own story – grown-ups in demonstrated the organisation’s greatest strength. While board members, politicians and senior management behave badly, the journalists and other content makers keep charge doing their jobs.

Dr Margaret Simons academic, journalist and author

The most powerful message to emerge from Four Corners’ sad story about the tumult at the top of the ABC is that neither the former chairman Justin Milne nor the former managing director Michelle Guthrie appeared to be friends of the public broadcaster. In the wake of the breakdown of their toxic working relationship, both seem to have given top priority to winning the battle – first before the board, then in the court of public opinion and now headed for the courts. The idea of self-sacrifice because of their high public duty doesn’t appear to have occurred to either one of them. Did either say a word about the future of the ABC in last night’s program? No. It was all he-said explanation for why the leadership of the she-said scrapping. ABC imploded this year. The ABC Both were pretty flaky with the truth. When Guthrie was appointed in December Guthrie’s claim that there had been 2015, a former colleague of hers told me represents one of no conversations about sacking the that she was “a good team member in a economics editor, Emma Alberici, clearly well-led team, but never the leader of that our best chances flew in the face of the evidence. Her team”. Time has proved him right. of political claim that what had been discussed were Guthrie has many strengths, but she was “external development opportunities” given the most difficult job in Australian cohesion and a for Alberici will surely go down in media media, and one of the most difficult in shared sense of history as one of the great euphemisms. public life. As in, “haven’t been fired. I’ve been offered nationhood. No She didn’t have either the skills or the external development opportunities.” self-knowledge to grow into the job and other organisation Milne, on the other hand, completely failed succeed. Milne, meanwhile, seems to in his attempt to explain his emails away have completely misunderstood his role has equivalent as not meaning what they clearly said. and been prepared – even eager – to reach or greater We can conclude that neither Milne nor compromise the ABC’s independence. respect. Guthrie was suitable to lead and care for Meanwhile the board, stacked by the our most important cultural institution. government with too many political This, together with unprecedented appointees, was incapable or unwilling to pressure from the government, is the manage the growing conflagration. Page 16 The program gave us plenty to What about the future of worry about. The ABC has been the ABC? Quiz Night weakened systemically through poor appointments, constant attacks and There has never been a stronger Question budget cuts. argument for ABC funding to be guaranteed. Milne’s shameless Last night we learned that the minister suggestion that the government had to can you for communications, Mitch Fifield, was be appeased because of its role as the frequently on the phone, first to Guthrie organisation’s “banker” makes the case answer it? and then, allegedly, to Milne, to discuss better than any true friend of the ABC “issues”. Guthrie had been miffed that could do. once Milne was appointed she no ABC Friends WA held a successful longer got the calls. Guthrie as managing director was fund-raising quiz night in pushing hard for the organisation to September. Neither Milne nor Guthrie seemed to make an inevitable transformation You may like a chance to see if have seen a problem with this apparent towards digital media. She wasn’t you can answer the ‘President’s frequency of informal personal contact. wrong. For an independent public broadcaster, Question’ from that night. For years now, including under the it’s not healthy. reign of the former managing director The other big revelation was that Mark Scott, there has been consensus Guthrie accused Milne of touching her about that broad direction. The difficult The question: inappropriately. She stopped short of questions have all been about how, and Name two federal government describing this as sexual harassment how fast, and how to retain an audience ministers who are members of or assault. at a time of fragmenting media. the Institute of Public Affairs? What are we to make of this? There is Guthrie wasn’t wrong about the direction The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) enough on the public record to show but she never managed to convince describes itself on its website as that Milne was behind the times in his her staff or her executive team that she an “independent, non-profit public understanding of how to behave with understood public broadcasting or had a policy think tank, dedicating to female colleagues. clear and cogent plan to bring about its preserving and strengthening the necessary evolution. He has admitted to referring to women foundations of economic and as “chicks”, as he said “to try and relax Milne was pushing Project Jetstream – political freedom”. people”. It has been claimed that he which at one level is also about digital As many of you who follow matters called Guthrie “the missus”. transition, but flies in the face of the ABC in the press may know, the approach taken by every other major We can see from his emails that he IPA frequently passes negative media organisation. used the kind of aggressive, hyper- comment about the ABC. In May masculine language that appears to Meanwhile, the politicians have this year it launched a book by Chris show both a lack of maturity and a lack been negligent. The great majority of Berg and Sinclair Davidson titled of consideration for his colleagues. Australians –almost 70% of us each Against Public Broadcasting – Why week – use the ABC. Most believe it is we should privatise the ABC and Milne has strongly denied ever doing a good job. The ABC represents how to do it. behaving inappropriately towards one of our best chances of political Guthrie. He also specifically denied For the answer to the quiz question, cohesion and a shared sense of see ‘WA News’ later in this an allegation that he had rubbed her nationhood. No other organisation has newsletter. back at a board dinner at Billy Kwong’s equivalent reach or greater respect. restaurant in Sydney in November Yet the organisation is almost never 2017. sensibly discussed. Instead ideologues “I’ve had no physical relationship with on all sides of politics foam over non- Michelle at all,” he said. “I never, ever issues and little time is spent in public acted inappropriately with Michelle, or discussion or serious strategic thinking indeed with any other woman in the about the organisation’s present and workforce, or any other woman at all.” future. This kind of thing polarises. Most For that we should blame the politicians, women who have worked in the media their thin skins, their neglect and their will find it easy to believe Guthrie’s short-term opportunism. claims and sympathise with her for We need the ABC’s funding and stability having to deal with this all-too-common to be guaranteed and fostered. We need form of sexist undermining behaviour. politicians with maturity and policy nous. But the program presented plenty of We need a good managing director and Bobbie Mackley evidence that her management and an impeccable chair. WA President leadership were also lacking. We need some grown-ups in charge.

Page 17 Shenanigans Shenanigans atat Ultimo’s Level 14

staff to make those programs. Sure, Milne an interim Board Chair who works with Paul Collins – formerly was not alone in his fixation on technology. the Acting General Manager and a small Religion Editor and Previous general manager, Mark Scott committee to draw up a whole new regular ABC presenter was also a complete technophile. He process for appointing board members at moved the Corporation in an increasingly arm’s length from government. commercial direction, possibly under the However, this should not happen until onday’s Four Corners on the influence of several of his board members after the next election. The last thing we ABC’s management shenanigans who were essentially right-wingers need is Scott Morrison or Communications – the Guthrie-Milne, she said-he M appointed by John Howard. Minister Mitch Fifield, who is ‘close to’ the said fiasco – and the failure of the rest of What these technology-besotted guys Institute for Public Affairs and who has said the ABC Board to own-up and answer don’t get is that the ABC is not there that ‘Conservatives have often floated the publicly for their performance tells you to have endless brand-spanking-new prospect of privatising the ABC…There is everything about what’s wrong at the platforms. It’s there to create content, merit in such proposals’, making decisions top of the national broadcaster. It’s not about the future of the ABC. imagined left-wing bias, or ‘inaccurate and unbalanced reporting’, or Emma In a previous article I referred to the way Alberici, or Andrew Probyn. It’s the bevy in which the BBC now gets its board. of management and business clones It is much more representative than the appointed by government to the Board ABC process. In that article I made some of the ABC and the kind of person they The ABC is well rid tentative suggestions as to how the ABC chose to run the organisation. of Milne and Guthrie board might be formed. The key principle here is that there must be public input and The shenanigans also tell you a hell of a and one can only public accountability and that the majority lot of what’s wrong with contemporary of those appointed not be selected by government. Political parties have hope that the rest of government. increasingly become elite cabals cut off from democratic processes, accountability the present board The ABC must also have guaranteed and grass roots. The boards of statutory have the decency to funding. Labor has guaranteed that it organisations like the ABC have become will restore the $84 million that Turnbull opportunities for patronage to reward resign or, if not, be cut from the ABC. That’s good, but it’s mates and ideological fellow-travellers. The sacked... chicken feed given that the Coalition has public interest is completely ignored. cut about $270 million from the ABC The present government didn’t invent Budget since 2014. The Corporation is this situation. It goes back a long way. It’s massively underfunded to fulfil its charter just that the Howard, Abbott and Turnbull obligations. Again, some type of arms- regimes turned it into an art form. And to report the news as truthfully as it length formula has to be developed so that given that the ABC is the most important can, to promote the cultural, artistic funding is guaranteed and dependence on cultural and news organisation in Australia, and educational life of Australia and to government minimised. appointment to the board is certainly a serve the people, especially by providing I see the present contretemps as an prestigious reward for mates. services to those cut off from or isolated opportunity. It is a chance to start again from mainstream media. The other thing the present fiasco tells us on-board appointments and funding and is that the ABC Board and Management The ABC is well rid of Milne and Guthrie it needs public support. But the people have become fixated on technology, on and one can only hope that the rest of who should butt-out are the present things like Milne’s pet project Jetstream the present Board have the decency to government and especially Fifield. This which was going to cost a cool half a resign or, if not, be sacked, probably best fiasco has occurred on his watch. billion dollars. Just think of all the great by the incoming government after the He’s not the person to solve the programs that would fund, as well as the forthcoming election. What is needed is problems he partially created. Page 18 How ‘TRUMPISM’ is affecting the ABC

Any Budget reductions, inquiries, Murdoch outlets being particularly brutal, Ranald Macdonald criticism, proposed changes to the ABC supported by the right wing shock- ABC Friends National Charter are all, as he puts it, just ‘good jocks and a raft of Conservative media Media Adviser housekeeping’. commentators. (As cartoonist Pope in the Illawarra All are attempting to weaken or destroy the ABC and attack its enviable high level oo many Government Ministers - Mercury depicts the Minister, he is of trust and credibility in a community and that includes ‘newish’ PM Scott ‘Guardening’ the ABC.) seeking counters to ‘fake news’. TMorrision - adopt the Donald Trump The Prime Minister announced on approach of telling blatant untruths as a November 8 that the commercial outlets ABC Friends National has just given a cover to what they actually stand for. would be charged with giving Australia a submission to the Senate Inquiry and has and will to all other inquiries which Nowhere is this more apparent than over voice in the Pacific Region, NOT the ABC, potentially affect the future of the ABC. the way the Government is treating, and which used to have a huge presence has treated, the ABC. through its Australian Network and Radio The Major Vision or Mission Statement is Australia before the Abbot Government set out in ABC Friends National Update, From Tony Abbot (‘No cuts’) to Malcolm cancelled the contract. August 2017, p. 5, or can be found on Turnbull (‘I am a friend of the ABC’) to the www.abcfriends.org.au genial ‘ScoMo’ (‘Each and every year the So - the fight to preserve the ABC as budget is going up’) an independent, properly-funded public The ABC Friends Vision Statement was broadcaster serving the Australian launched by Margaret Reynolds, All the while the Minister for community has been joined. National Presidents of ABC Friends, Communications Senator Mitch Fifield on 2 July 2017 at Federation poses as a friend and defender of the And it is a fight - as ranged against it Square, Melbourne ABC. are the commercial rivals - with the

Page 19 PRESS RELEASE: 19 NOVEMBER 2018 LABOR WILL RESTORE ABC SHORTWAVE RADIO TO NT

In Alice Springs today, Shadow Minister for Regional to reverse it, again leaving Territorians without a voice in Cabinet. Communications, Stephen Jones MP, joined with Senator Labor believes that it was premature to cut ABC shortwave radio Malarndirri McCarthy and the Hon Warren Snowdon MP to services and that if the ABC had not been under intense budget announce that a Shorten Labor Government will provide the ABC constraints, this decision would never have been made. with $2 million in funding to help re-establish shortwave radio services across the Northern Territory. Labor has been campaigning against the ABC’s decision to cease shortwave transmissions since it was announced in mid- Australians living in remote areas already face significant December 2016. We know how important shortwave is, that’s communications challenges and the loss of access to ABC why we are switching it back on. services from shortwave radio cuts people off from emergency broadcasts as well as being an important connection to the rest By switching the shortwave back on a Shorten Labor Government of Australia. will ensure, towns, communities and travellers are connected to the rest of the nation. The Liberal Government’s budget cuts to the ABC forced some bad decisions on the organisation, including the decision to cut Labor’s funding commitment of $2 million to restore ABC their shortwave radio transmissions in January 2017. shortwave services is in addition to Labor’s commitment to reverse the Morrison Government’s $83.7 million unfair cut to the Since then, organisations like the Northern Territory Government, ABC, as well as our guarantee of funding certainty over the next NT Cattlemen’s Association, Northern Territory Seafood Council ABC budget cycle. representing commercial and tourist fishing businesses, Amateur Fisherman Association, Indigenous Rangers, long haul transport drivers and the Toyota Land Cruiser Club representing Grey Nomads have raised concerns about the loss of these services. Stephen Jones MP The Territory is a draw card for grey nomads with around 600,000 Shadow Minister for Regional Communications Regional Services, visits each year. Territories and Local Government For remote First Nations communities, shortwave radio equipment The Hon Warren Snowdon MP is relatively cheap to purchase and does not require external Shadow Minister for Indigenous Health, Shadow Minister for power to operate. By contrast, other forms of communication Northern Australia such as mobile phones, TV and broadband all rely on mains Member for Lingiari power. In January 2017, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten wrote to then Senator Malarndirri Mccarthy Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asking him to work with the ABC Senator for the Northern Territory to restore the shortwave. Luke Gosling MP OAM Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Nigel Scullion criticised the ABC’s decision but was unable to convince his own government Member for Solomon

Left: M McCarthy and S Jones at the announcement at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Right: Roe Creek Short Wave Transmitter, just outside Alice Springs.

Page 20 PRESS RELEASE: 19 NOVEMBER 2018 Tasmania Members gathered in Oatlands in late State News September for one of the most informative LABOR WILL RESTORE ABC AGMs we have held. Saturday, 13 October, 2018, as part Prior to the meeting, we heard from our of Brisbane’s annual Open House SHORTWAVE RADIO TO NT Queensland guest speaker, Jenny Buckland, CEO programme. After an approach by Queensland of the Australian Children’s Television President Ross McDowell to ABC Though the weather was rather inclement, Foundation (ACTF). and it coincided with ABC Friends Friends Victoria to assist in developing an Key Points from Jenny’s Address online membership application/renewal Queensland’s Annual General Meeting, The recent Government inquiry into format, ABC Friends (Qld) members and some ABC Friends set up a table for a Australian content involved the whole new members can now carry out the couple of hours outside the ABC’s South industry and we are waiting to hear transaction online at the ABC Friends Bank premises, and received several the outcome. The most enthusiastic National website. This finally has the interested inquiries. participants were the commercials. They Queensland branch fully electronic and ABC Friends Qld. held a promotional have obligations in respect of children’s TV able to meet the demands of the digital market stall at Milton Markets in Brisbane’s and they want them scrapped. They may age. inner West, on 4 November. The stall was have a point. They operate in a disruptive staffed by more than a dozen Friends’ “A special thank you to Simon Strong environment, creating local content is a members who volunteered about two of ABC Friends Victoria for his excellent costly exercise and they are the only ones hours each to answer questions about the work in delivering this much needed required to screen Australian content for ABC and engage in conversations about enhancement to our registration children. They are saying it should be left what the ABC means to them. processes,” ABC Friends Qld. Treasurer, to the ABC and we need to consider if that Mr Kent Eising said. “It was a great crowd at the market and is arguable. Memberships in Queensland are at a new we had lots of people showing support high and continuing to grow at a rate not and asking questions about the ABC. seen in Queensland for a very long time. We signed up over 70 people to receive ongoing information to keep them “We are encouraged by this surge in informed,” organiser Mr Garth Sherman membership indicating that our message is said. getting to Queenslanders who care about the ABC,” Mr Eising said. Dr Mark Hayes Publicity Officer, ABC Friends Qld ABC Brisbane held its Open Day on

Jenny Buckland

The requirement is that commercial networks screen 32 hours of first release Australian children’s drama every year. ABC and SBS have no quotas. The ABC Charter doesn’t mention children.

Above: Milton Markets - Kent Eising, Garth Children’s TV is most often described as Sherman, Kathleen Cardwell, Ross McDowell. a genre, alongside drama, news, current Below left: Queensland ABC Friends affairs. It is not a genre. Children are a Committee. Below right:Open Day at the percentage of the population, an audience ABC, Brisbane. with different needs to the rest of the population. They should have the same sweep of programs that adults have. Who should provide that? How should it be funded? The commercial quotas have produced quality Australian content that gets an overseas market, especially those programs with really strong Australian content.

Page 21 off the hook? They think so. What does the • calls on the ABC to make the production State News ABC think? The Government inquiry was of quality Australian media content for an opportunity for the ABC to step up. The Australian children a core priority and to ABC could have responded to the review structure its internal budget in line with that Surprising that the requirements have priority; and lasted as long as they have. The with a vision for a comprehensive service commercial broadcasters have been to kids of all ages. They could have made • seeks the support of ABC Friends arguing to get rid of them for years. The it clear that, if the government wanted to National to pursue these goals nationally. politicians have been less concerned. relieve the commercial broadcasters of What next in Tasmania? When asked what will happen if the their obligation, the ABC was ready to step After the meeting, we had a free-flowing requirements go, many say they are not up. Instead the ABC argued: ‘Trust us’ discussion so that all present could concerned – ‘doesn’t the ABC do it?’ and ‘quotas should remain for them’. ‘No quotas required for us; it’s in our DNA’. ask questions of those presenting their For years, the ABC has had Play School, That was the full sum of the submission. Reports and indicate areas for action to be the Bananas and hours of imported kids’ followed up by the incoming Committee. shows, mainly animation. And it has It is imperative that Parliament intervenes. All of these ideas and others contained played politics with children’s content. It The ABC should be required to, and within the Reports themselves will form axed Behind the News (BTN) as a political be funded to, provide high quality kids’ part of the Committee’s agenda for its statement following one round of funding content. For Friends - if a tied funding 2019 planning meeting and some will be cuts but that backfired. Following a public proposal, in your thinking, means referred to the National Committee for backlash questioning the ABC’s priorities, interference with the independence of the attention. BTN was reinstated. ABC, think about the BBC. The BBC has Navigating the News same requirements that ACTF argues for In 2006 ACTF started lobbying for a public and the BBC is the best in the world in ABC Tasmania and the University of broadcaster children’s channel. It won respect of programming for children. Tasmania jointly presented this conference eventually, with ABC 3, now ABC ME. It in Hobart in September. Tasmanian was done with additional funding that We still need commercial requirements Friends’ had two representatives at the transformed kids’ TV in Australia. That too. Competition increases the drive conference, Margaret Reynolds and kind of funding brings out the people who for higher standards. ALL should have Belinda Wright. are ready to write and produce more and obligations and those who already do, better quality content. should have them updated to be more The conference explored the public’s declining trust in the media, the response The audience reaction was dramatic. relevant to today’s children and media environment. of news organisations and media literacy But the funding was not tied to the responses. children’s department. ACTF assumed it Motion Dr Jocelyn Nettlefold, the convenor, was and thought ‘mission accomplished’, Noting the informative contribution of our stressed the importance of collaboration in regardless of what happened with the guest speaker, the meeting unanimously responding to misinformation and spoke of commercials. passed the following motion: the idea of truth being secured by reason History of concerns re tied funding That this meeting and our ability to think for ourselves. were seen to cut across the ABC’s • calls on all candidates for the coming Dr Nettlefold and fellow academic, Dr independence. The argument has Federal election to declare their position Kathleen Williams, head of journalism at been put by Friends. And ACTF naively on the value of the production of quality the University, have co-authored a report assumed that ABC content would be 50% Australian media content for Australian titled Insight Five: A Snapshot of Media Australian as it was announced as such. children; Literacy, which investigates the challenge But there was no actual agreement on that so, within a few years, the funding started to be reallocated. With 2014 funding cuts, ABC used kids’ TV in its PR war. Mark Scott threatened the end of Peppa Pig. It was never in danger as it is British and a marketing juggernaut that was always going to survive. ABC now has a more enlightened attitude to kids’ TV than in the lazy days when its only offering was yearly revisiting of Bluewater High. But its levels of Australian content are still very low, representing less than 30% of the schedule and including lots of imported cartoons. ABC is at the mercy of government Incoming Tasmanian Committee (L to R): Fay Gervasoni (Vice-President), Kevin O’Dea, funding but is also at the mercy of its Peta Fitzgibbon, Belinda Wright (Treasurer), Peter Tatham, Kate Durkin (Secretary), current executive body. Rowan Wylie, Anne O’Byrne (Northern Convenor), Margaret Reynolds (President) Should the commercial broadcasters be let Absent: Roslyn Stoddart (Northern Convenor)

Page 22 of teaching young people how to separate fact from fiction in an age of online media manipulation. The report was launched at the beginning of the conference by Dr Rufus Black, the University’s Vice- Chancellor. Over two days there were a number of presentations and panel discussions which addressed a range of topics: the definition of public journalism and its future; making sense of ‘Information disorder’; how to build trust in contemporary journalism; literacy in science and health journalism, and how to communicate certainty in uncertain times; media literacy and education; and how to engage with the younger generation in meaningful and constructive ways. The conference participants discussing these issues came from a variety of media outlets. There were journalists and managerial staff from the ABC, Fairfax Media Ltd, News Corporation Australia, Buzzfeed Australia, and Google Australia and New Zealand, as well as academics and researchers from universities, research centres and institutes such as the Digital Media Research Centre, QUT, the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies and the Australian Academy of Science. Belinda has prepared a detailed report on the conference so, if you would like to read more, email our Secretary, Kate Durkin, at [email protected]. Kate Durkin, Secretary, ABC Friends Tas

South Australia The Mayo by-election, held on 28 July, provided us with an opportunity to advance the cause of the ABC and test our election strategy for next year’s Federal election. Well before the by- election we sent a letter to each of the Mayo candidates with questions about their support for the ABC. Responses were then summarised and sent to Mayo Friends supporters with the pointer ‘Vote for the candidate who best supports the ABC’. Before she was re-elected on 28 July, we presented a Defenders Badge to Rebekha Sharkie (a long-time advocate for the Top: ALP-ABC Rally Aberfoyle Park Middle: Rebekha receiving her Defenders ABC) to acknowledge her commitment to badge. Bottom: Rebekha and ABC Friends. working towards restoring the $338 million slashed from the ABC budget since 2014. Leading up to the Mayo by-election we At the CWA, on 19 August, we held our Mihir Makwana (Treasurer), Rosemary represented ABC Friends on stalls the AGM at which the new committee was Abbott (Membership Officer) and Community and Public Sector Union elected for the New Year. The following committee members: Wendy Parsons, (CPSU) ran at Victor Harbour and Mount were people were elected Sue Pinnock Tina Phillips, Andrew Johnston, Aussie Barker. (President), Sandra Coopman (Secretary), Kanck and Chris Adami. We thanked Page 23 State News

Aussie Kanck (past Treasurer), Dianne Jones (past Secretary) and Jessica Knight (committee member) for their generous and extensive work on behalf of Friends of the ABC. Aussie is also continuing in his role on the National Committee’s IT subcommittee. Our speaker, Cassandra Hough, a very experienced reporter and presenter from ABC Adelaide, spoke passionately about her role as presenter of the Country Hour. She told the audience about the ABC Adelaide’s Regional team and the ABC’s digital focus and she stayed after the meeting to speak with members over afternoon tea. During August I wrote a submission on behalf of ABCF National to the Government’s Review of Australian Broadcasting Services into the Asia Pacific. In it, I broadly argued for the restoration of shortwave radio in its digital form Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) with our national broadcaster, the ABC, providing content and with financial support by DFAT to cover transmission costs. You can imagine our surprise and chagrin when we heard that PM Scott Morrison announced on 8 November his plans to Top left: Dianne Jones, Jessica Knight, Aussie Kanck and Sue Pinnock. Top right: commercialise Pacific broadcasting. Our Cassie Hough. Above: Gardeners Market. National President responded immediately in a media release soundly rejecting the PM’s plans. She pointed out that of September have crystallised for the enjoy the company of members in a more commercialisation will not provide quality community the ABC’s dire situation. There relaxed atmosphere. December 16 to 18 public interest journalism to our Pacific was much concern about the attempts by will see us holding a stall at the National neighbours and that it is the ABC that the Government to politicise the ABC and Labor Conference at the Convention has the experience and professionalism undermine its independence, with ongoing Centre in Adelaide. The committee has to create strong partnerships with Pacific funding cuts potentially compromising been wonderfully supported by members Nations and enhance Australian foreign the ability of the ABC to meet its Charter who will help out on the stall over the three policy. commitments and service all Australians. days. Several people signed up for membership Several of our committee members, on All in all, this has been a very busy five of the Friends on the spot, very unusual! 9 October, attended Politics in the Pub months! I wish all our SA and NT members ‘In Conversation with Senator Tim Storer’ On Sunday 4 November, we held a stall a wonderful Christmas and a safe and hosted by The Australia Institute. One of at the Uraidla Show in the Adelaide Hills happy New Year. the issues he covered was the lack of to promote the Friends. Once again there Sue Pinnock independence of the ABC Board, brought was concern expressed by those we President, ABC Friends SA to light by the sacking of Managing talked to about what is happening to the Director, Michelle Guthrie, and the ABC. This was explored in a ‘Save the subsequent resignation of the Chair, Justin ABC’ rally hosted by Amanda Rishworth, Western Australia Milne, at the end of September. Senator Labor MP, at the Aberfoyle Hub, south of Dear WA members and other readers, this Storer has introduced a bill into Parliament Adelaide on 10 November. As one of the has been a busy year with the ABC under to enhance the independent nomination speakers, along with former Classic FM continued attack through funding cuts and process to ensure the independence, presenter, Bob Maynard, I explained why the negative attitudes towards it by some the situation for the ABC has never been integrity and transparency of people members of the federal government and so serious. wishing to be Board directors parts of the media. That the ABC has The ABC’s only Gardeners’ Market for the Our End of Year (early Christmas) luncheon become very much an election issue in year (rain having caused the postponing is being held at The Public Schools Club response to this is underlined by the large of April’s market) was held on Saturday on Sunday 18 November. ABC Defender, increase in membership we have had 13 October. Our stall caused an unusual Mem Fox, is our guest speaker. It will be throughout the year, welcome though amount of visitor interest. The events good to hear what Mem has to say and that is.

Page 24 Left: Dr Vanessa Guthrie. Above: WA Quiz Night.

AGM According to our Rules of Association, the Answer to the WA President automatically assumes the other ABC Friends WA held its Annual General President’s Quiz Night spot. Meeting on Sunday 16th September in the Question (P.17) ‘Hub’ area on the 2nd floor of ABC Perth. Congratulations to all office-holders The question was answered The meeting was well attended. Guest and committee members on their correctly and the winner awarded speaker was Vanessa Guthrie, WA’s ABC appointments - WA now has a full the President’s prize. Board member, who gave an interesting committee of nine people for the first time speech and stayed to chat with members in many years. The President then proceeded during refreshments. This was a matter of to read out the full list of Quiz Night days before the departures of MD Michelle parliamentarians who are members Guthrie and Board Chair Justin Milne – We held a very successful fund-raising of the IPA with the audience such a pity we didn’t know what was quiz night on Wednesday 17th October reacting loudly to each name as it about to occur! at Rosie O’Grady’s in Northbridge, raising was spoken. a very encouraging $2,000 towards ABC The new committee for the next year are: Federal Government Ministers Friends’ national campaign fund. who are members of the Institute Bobbie Mackley, another term as Thanks to everyone who came along, of Public Affairs are: President; and special thanks to those who donated Scott Morrison, Prime Minister Cathy Bardon, another term as Secretary; prizes. Much of the funds raised were Josh Frydenberg, Treasurer Janet Matthews, taking on the Treasurer’s through ticket sales, but two raffles also role for the first time; raised a significant amount thanks to the Mathias Cormann, Senate Leader great prizes. Alannah MacTiernan MLC and Finance Minister Terri Brown, remaining on the committee (who booked a table and came along after a couple of terms as Treasurer; Mitch Fifield, Minister for herself) donated a lunch for four hosted Communications (with responsibility Michael Dowling, another year on the by herself at WA Parliament House; for the ABC!) committee; the other raffle prize was a weekend in Simon Birmingham, Deputy Senate Jenny Meyrick and Leuba McMaugh who holiday accommodation at Eagle Bay, Leader and Minister for Trade both join the committee for the first time near Margaret River, for up to 8 people, donated by a long-time member and Michaelia Cash, Minister for Small The Vice-President’s position was not filled. former president. and Family Business Bevan Carter flagged his interest at the The night was a lot of fun, but we did Kelly O’Dwyer, Minister for meeting and agreed to join the committee get some feedback, including that the Industrial Relations the next day. questions were too hard! We will bear Other parliamentarians who are Elizabeth Long could not attend the AGM all the comments and suggestions in members of the IPA: but later joined the committee for a further mind when we plan the next event. I’d year. particularly like to thank Cathy and Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz, George Christensen, Ian McDonald, James At a short committee meeting following Elizabeth for the huge effort they put in to McGrath, James Patterson, Scott the AGM, Cathy Bardon was appointed as make it a success. Ryan, Tony Smith, Alan Tudge and one of the two state representatives on the Bobbie Mackley Tim Wilson. committee of ABC Friends National Inc. President, ABC Friends WA

Page 25 money; and the importance of partnering State News with other like-minded organisations and seeking unlikely allies. Two Friends’ stalwarts were recognised NSW and ACT for their extraordinary service to ABC Friends over decades: Margaret Foy and 1. State Conference 25-26 August Chris. Cartledge who were awarded Life Members of the NSW Committee and Membership and all agreed this was richly delegates from regional branches met for deserved. two days to discuss what ABC Friends 2. Annual Dinner 21 September can do to maximise its impact in its commitment to defend and advance Paul Barry, host of Media Watch, was our the cause of the ABC. A number of Guest Speaker and delivered a thoughtful and informative address, reflecting on his guests were invited to participate in our David Hill and Prof Ed Davis. discussions. These included: experiences as a journalist and stressing the critical importance of a strong and • Social movement activists Daren Gayle Davies, Membership Secretary. The independent ABC. He emphasised the McDonald and Tim Gartrell and Ruby elected Committee members are: Ireen critical role of ABC Friends. The house O’Halloran (GetUp!) on Campaigning Allanson, Geoff Brann, James Buchanan, was full, with approximately 150 Friends Sybille Frank, Professor Russell Lansbury, • Jane Connors (ABC Staff-elected in attendance. The event also saw the Peter Lindenmayer, Jason Lowe and Diana Director) and Judith Whelan (ABC award of Life Membership to Jason Lowe, Wyndham. Chris. Cartledge was sincerely Specialist Content) on challenges facing for his outstanding support for the past thanked for his years of outstanding the ABC 20 years; and Angela Williamson spoke service to the Friends. While he did not about her new book, The 2015 Kangaroo • Peter Monie (Victorian President and stand for a position on the Committee March: A Century On. Jason and his National Treasurer) on Marginal Seats he will continue to assist until the team were thanked for their magnificent campaigns, and NationBuilder project is completed work in organising the dinner. I took the opportunity to encourage all attendees to The AGM approved a motion endorsing take NSW Membership brochures away Life Membership for Chris. Cartledge, with them, to join up at least one friend Margaret Foy and Jason Lowe and and/or family member. One Friend picked endorsed a rule change dealing with the up 30 brochures and said this would solve process for electing representatives to the what to give her friends for Christmas! National Committee. 3. AGM on 27 October Other Activities Former Chair and Managing Director of In addition to the major events of the the ABC (1987-95) David Hill was the past few months already outlined, other Guest Speaker and delivered a thoughtful activities have included a visit to the AGM and entertaining address which dwelt on of the Hunter Region Branch, an address the importance of the ABC and the saga on the importance of public broadcasting of government attacks over decades. to the NSW Retired Teachers Association, He emphasised the absolute imperative a lecture on the same topic to the U3A Dr Tanja Meyerhofer and Prof Ed Davis. that the ABC MD and Chair must resist at Kincumber and the presentation of a government attempts to influence ABC submission to the Department of Foreign news and current affairs. The ABC must Affairs and Trade on the role of the ABC in • Dr Tanja Meyerhofer (European be seen to be independent. He noted that the exercise of soft power in the Indo- Broadcasting Union) on public sector the strongest weapon in the fight for the Pacific region. NSW ABCF was also very campaigns in Europe. ABC was its very high level of public trust active in the campaign for Wentworth and Matt Peacock, former Staff-elected and support. He praised ABC Friends for this is the subject of a separate report. Director and long-time ABC journalist, their strong actions in support of public Prof Ed Davis attended the whole conference. Matt also broadcasting and commented that the President, ABC Friends NSW brought news about the ABC Alumni, Friends were able to take up issues when which is about to be formed as another the ABC saw their hands were tied. He organisation committed to fight for the was warmly thanked and applauded. Victoria ABC, alongside and with the Friends. Around 90 members attended and Victorian Marginal Seats Campaign Up Themes from the discussions included the received reports from the President, and Running need to be ready for an early election; the Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Web importance of ABCF having a clear focus Manager and the Events Report. Nizza The Marginal Seats Campaign (MSC) in and a message that can be transmitted Siano acted as the Returning Officer Victoria is well under way and is expected with impact; the need for national and declared the following as re-elected: to have a real impact in the upcoming consistency; the need to lift recruitment President, Ed Davis; VP, Mal Hewitt; 2019 federal election. and donations; the need to report-back to and, Treasurer, Margaret Whealy. Angela The five marginal seats (required swing of members on how we are spending their Williamson will be the new Secretary and less than 4%) that were initially identified Page 26 have now been complemented by party policies regarding the ABC. A special some additional seats as new electoral flyer for our bushfire season will also boundaries have been confirmed and appear shortly. current polling indicated a shrinking of The on-going news around the ABC some expected margins. We are already management and Board has of course detecting great nervousness amongst heightened the sense of public dismay sitting MPs when we contact them and about Aunty’s circumstances and most meet with them to ask about their ABC people across the State are happy to policies. receive our information sheets and discuss The campaign kicked off in July with a what’s happening. prominent billboard and demonstration Fantastic work on the ground - at railway by the Eastern Group in Julia Banks’ stations, festivals, events, playhouses and Chisholm electorate. cinemas - by the Eastern, Geelong and Dr Gillian Triggs speaking at the dinner. Was it a coincidence that Banks Southern Bayside local groups are really announced shortly afterwards her getting the message out to these marginal unwillingness to stand again? electorates that the ABC needs friends The Human Rights Commissioner who withstood the combined wrath of the As a follow-up, signage in metropolitan desperately, and that their vote is going to be critical if the ABC is to be saved. Other Federal Government and its News Ltd trains travelling through the Melbourne supporters, and emerged strong and south and eastern marginal seats local groups in Inner Melbourne and La Trobe are right now being resurrected as dignified, Dr Gillian Triggs, stressed the were contracted over 8 weeks through importance of the ABC to democracy at September/October with another 8 week ‘people power’ arises in these areas. There is a swelling of concern all over Victoria the ABC Friends Victoria Annual Dinner on burst to come in 2019. These in-carriage 22 November. signs were designed to raise ABC as ABCF local groups are increasingly awareness and support generally. active and effective – great work and “Thank you so much … and I can’t think of congratulations to you all. a better group in the whole of Australia to The MSC sub-committee then embarked After the Christmas and New Year period be talking to: friendly; comfortable; safe!” on a program of providing the tools (flyers, Dr Triggs said to great applause. banners, corflute signage, stalls, electorate ends, the real MSC work in 2019 begins demographics, 2016 election results, in the run-up to the federal election. A “Partly because we just love it!” she said to candidate profiles and questionnaire, new ‘ABC Rally’ is in the mix along with laughter. digital artwork toolbox) and assistance a focus on actively campaigning against “But a deeper reason is because the to local groups that would help them be candidates with ‘poor or no’ written ABC in all its forms is a vital part of our effective campaigners in the marginal and committed public broadcasting democracy.” seats. A ‘contact your PM and your MP’ policies in place. If you live in a marginal Victorian federal seat and haven’t already “Public broadcasting makes an important flyer was produced for each marginal seat, contribution to democracy for the public and new flyers are now in the pipeline to volunteered to help next year please contact the Victorian office now! must have an opportunity to be objectively highlight the ABC issues and compare informed through trusted sources,” she Marcus May said. Publicity, ABC Friends Vic “Without access for Australians to VICTORIAN FRIENDS ANNUAL accurate information and reasoned DINNER HEARS FROM DR GILLIAN opinion, we cannot have a truly TRIGGS representative political system to ensure Former Human Rights Commissioner calls social justice, accountability or even for ABC “guaranteed funding” reform.” “The ABC’s independence from Above: One of the in-carriage signs. Below: The Eastern Group’s demonstration. commercial and political interference enables it to report without fear or favour, but to achieve that objective of independence - as I know too well - it must be adequately funded by government and independent of government influence.” Dr Triggs called for funding reform as an answer to the unending pressure on the ABC. “I believe the ABC should have some form of guaranteed budget to take away one of the most powerful tools of government that use to diminish its genuine independence,” she said. Peter Monie President, ABC Friends Vic Page 27 NSW Branch News

In October we Armidale sponsored a talk Blue Mountains by Debbie Spillane, The Armidale branch started the second titled The Media and Our branch has been very active this year. half of 2018 with a letter writing evening the Future. To our Currently, we have around 140 members, in July. The evening attracted about 20 knowledge, Debbie with an average of 20 loyal members members, who spent a couple of hours in was the first full- attending our lively monthly meetings at the ancient practice of producing hand- Debbie time female sports the Grandview Hotel at Wentworth Falls. written letters, seeking support for the Spillane AM. broadcaster in We have welcomed new members this ABC from a range of current government Australia, reporting year, and “old” members, returning to the ministers. This seemed to be a successful through the ABC in Friends. exercise, with most letters ultimately the 1980’s. We are grateful to Debbie A real highlight for us this year was attracting a response from their recipients for coming to Armidale and providing a the awarding of an ABC Friends Life and so keeping the importance of our fabulous talk. Membership to our Senior Vice President, national public broadcaster in the minds of Margaret Foy, at State Conference our politicians. In November the president of our branch gave a talk to the Armidale branch of the in August. Margaret has been an At our regular August meeting we decided National Seniors. extraordinarily active ABC Friends member to present a petition to the good folk of for 34 years. As a passionate supporter Armidale protesting at the political bias This talk identified the connections and defender of our ABC, she has served that is apparent in the appointment of between a healthy democracy and ABC Friends in many roles, including Blue ABC Board members. We did this at independent public broadcasting. This Mountains President for seven years. the September market and managed to included dispelling a range of myths Locally, Margaret has enthusiastically get 245 signatures over four hours. This concerning the ABC, as Australia’s major led our branch in campaigns, rallies, petition, asking for politically independent public broadcaster, and highlighted the forums, local festivals and events. She appointments and a resumption of ABC activities of the ABC Friends in trying to has represented us at National and State funding to pre-2014 levels, was then sent create the optimal environment in which conferences, and maintains contact with to the Standing Committee on Petitions for independent public broadcasting can her wide network of Friends. She has the House of Representatives in Canberra. flourish. established a great rapport with many ABC As with the letters, our current position is Bruce Stevenson identities over the years, thus securing big- that every bit helps. President, ABC Friends Armidale name guest speakers for our meetings and

Top left: ABC acting Managing Director David Anderson with Blue Mountains Friends at Blackheath’s Rhododendrum Festival Left: Damien Beaumont, guest speaker at BM branch AGM, with Mal Hewitt and Tony Young (media co-ordinator) Top right: Margaret Foy’s Life Membership Award at State Conference, with Mal Hewitt and Sue Noske

Page 28 Redshaw-devised quiz, “Do You Know forums. Congratulations Margaret! for the weekend and was very pleased to Your ABC?” should be entertaining and have his photo taken with our group. He At least 25 Blue Mountains Friends revealing! attended the July Defenders Rally in spoke about how important ABCF is to the Sue Noske Sydney. Proudly brandishing the bright ABC. David has offered to visit our branch President, ABC Friends Blue Mountains new ABC Friends posters and wearing next year. Quite a coup for us! our blue “I LOVE ABC T-shirts,” around Also this month, our branch was well ten of us set off from Central station. represented at a community forum to We managed to pick up Robin Williams “Protect the ABC and the Future of Central Coast (ABC Science Show) on the way to the Public Broadcasting”, at Wentworth On Friday 16 November Dr Fiona Martin Teachers Federation Auditorium. He was Falls School of Arts, organized by our addressed the Central Coast branch of crossing the road outside Central, as we Federal Member Susan Templeman, and ABC Friends. Dr Martin is a senior lecturer were. However, he was heading in the presenting Michelle Rowland, Shadow from the University of Sydney, researching opposite direction to us, wearing his smart Minister for Communications. Michelle was digital journalism as well as the uses, black and pink “I Love ABC” T-shirt. We very interested in ideas from concerned politics and regulation of online media and persuaded him to join us. He stood at locals, and spoke passionately about its implications for media industry change. the side of the stage, until Ed Davis kindly the importance of a well-funded and She is also a former community and offered him a seat ON the stage! independent ABC. ABC radio broadcaster and cross-media Our dedicated Letter Writers Group, led by At our AGM recently, our guest speaker journalist. Her speech focussed on women our Junior Vice President Barry Redshaw, was Damien Beaumont, popular ABC and leadership within the ABC, starting has had letters published in the Blue presenter from Classic FM’s Evenings with history of women’s work within the Mountains Gazette, the Saturday Paper program. He is also a presenter of organisation, largely in administrative roles, and the Sydney Morning Herald. The concerts and events on ABC TV and in the creation of the Australian Women’s group will continue in this vital role next demand as a Master of Ceremonies, guest Broadcasting Cooperative (AWBC) in year, particularly with the Federal election speaker and performing narrator. He lives 1974, and its subsequent training of looming. in the Blue Mountains and was invited hundreds of female broadcasters. She by our Vice President Margaret Foy, a described the progress that has been Our monthly Blue Mountains Branch made in achieving gender equality in newsletter, produced and edited by friend of Damien’s. His presentation was both entertaining and enlightening. The employment, as well as the future hopes Barry and Bev Redshaw, keeps our local for women in public broadcasting. members up to date with media reports first part of his presentation focussed on concerning the ABC. Barry has a very Classic FM’s history, structure and funding. fat, (and getting fatter), scrapbook titled, The second part paid homage to female “Dramas in Pyjamas”, which he passes composers, from early composers such around at our meetings. Barry’s and Bev’s as Clara Schumann to contemporary contributions to ABC Friends cannot be Australian composers. Fascinating and understated. delightful! One of our recent recruits, Shirley Lewis, Next year will be another busy year for aka Shirley the Bag Lady, spoke at two of us, with the Federal election looming. our meetings this year about her ASAP: We plan to host a Candidates’ Forum, As Sustainable As Possible campaign. inviting all the Macquarie seat candidates She launched Radio ASAP here in the to speak to us on a range of ABC-related Blue Mountains. She is a tireless crusader issues, such as restoration of funding, in the War on Waste, visiting Eco schools and the independence of the public in Northern NSW. She has met with the broadcaster. At our AGM, Mal Hewitt, National and NSW Friends Vice President ABC Head of Education, and is seeking Dr Fiona Martin. cooperation with the ABC to cover her and a member of our branch, spoke to us campaign, promoting Eco-schools. about the local Friends’ campaign in the Wentworth by-election. In the early 1990s Dr Martin had worked Earlier this month, a group of Blue as a producer of the seminal ABC Radio Next year we will have a Friends stall at Mountains Friends staged a colourful stall National women’s program The Coming Springwood Foundation Day on the 29th at the Blackheath Rhododendrum Festival, Out Show, produced by the AWBC, whose April. If the Federal Election occurs in May, generating much interest. Lots of people team over the previous two decades this local April event will be an opportune took away ABC Friends Membership had included investigative journalist Liz time to publicize our candidates’ views forms, and the new bold campaign Jackson, film critic Julie Rigg, comedian on the ABC. We will borrow strategies bumper stickers proved very popular. We and political commentator Julie McCrossin, used at the Wentworth by-election, and hope to spot lots of cars displaying vibrant film and arts executive Sandra Levy utilize strategies from our member Phil stickers, up and down the Great Western and community radio executive Nicola Greenidge’s “Save our ABC Grass Roots Highway! The new “Imagine Life Without Joseph. The Coming Out Show provided Campaign”, for local action and ABCF Your ABC” tote bags were a big hit as innovative and informative programs on promotion. well. Many people gave donations. A issues of great significance from women’s lucky encounter topped off the day. Acting Our final event for the year is our End- perspectives, including issues of race, ABC Managing Director, David Anderson, of-Year dinner, which promises to be indigeneity and immigration. Dr Martin just happened to be visiting the mountains a festive, fun-filled evening, Our Barry then described how women are currently

Page 29 NSW Branch News ACT Region Our world has never been more complex. represented across the various that the ABC will be able to overcome its Never before have we had so many pay scales and positions within current travails and continue to produce people, so many nations, so many the ABC. In many of these areas quality journalism and programming into technologies and competing interests and they are now approaching parity the future. ideas. Technological, social and political with men numerically, but are still Ross McGowen change is rapid and accelerating across underrepresented in the more highly Convenor, ABC Friends Central Coast every field, with implications that we can paid and technical positions. only dimly comprehend. Dr Fiona Martin assisted in the writing of Part of the lecture was devoted to this article. How do we try to grasp the enormity of Michelle Guthrie’s record as Managing these future challenges? How can we as Director, and the difference between Australians and global citizens make the her top-down executive leadership Hunter Branch economic, political and ethical decisions and the bottom-up collective that might nudge our own lives, and the leadership of the AWBC. Dr Martin Forty members attended the Hunter AGM future of our country and our planet, in the drew attention to Guthrie’s expertise which was held on 24 September 2018 in directions we think they should go? in digital media and her experience the South Newcastle Leagues Club. We Our only chance of doing that is by getting as a commercial executive with are very grateful to our two interesting accurate information about the world, and Google. However, she indicated guest speakers, Sharon Claydon, Federal access to thoughtful, informed discussion these strengths were mitigated M.P. for Newcastle who spoke about of the implications of what is going on by Guthrie’s inability to obtain the “Protecting our ABC” and Professor Ed around us. necessary collective support from ABC staff for the changes she Of course, the ABC is not the only source wished to implement. Dr Martin drew of that quality information and discussion attention to the unique demands about the world - but for Australians, of managing public institutions it’s easily the most important, and has compared to those in the commercial the broadest reach across regions and sector. Michelle Guthrie’s lack of demographic groups. experience as media worker and a So the campaign to support the ABC is public sector executive, along with her a campaign for wise, well-informed and difficulties in managing the forthright, humane policy across many fields. And the Alan Thomas, Sharon Claydon and articulate and intelligent staff of the ABC is arguably also the most important Ed Davis. ABC, contributed to her eventual single contributor to quality Australian removal by the Board. Questions cultural and creative content. from the audience included the role of traditional flow programming in Davis, NSW President of ABC Friends Such a precious national resource needs the digital “appointment media” era, who outlined the in-depth preparations protecting from those who fail to see its the difficulties confronted by arts that are being undertaken by the national importance. And so the ACT Region group programmers when expenditure cuts organisation in readiness for the federal is organising to do our bit. are implemented and the current election in 2019. Little were we to know Our next big opportunity will be the state of regional services within the that a few days later, the ABC itself would 2019 federal election. We will be asking ABC. Our audience expressed their become the headline news. candidates to commit to promoting a admiration for an informative and The following members have kindly agreed strong and independent ABC if elected, insightful presentation. to work on the Hunter branch committee and we will encourage people to vote Looking towards 2019 our branch will for the 2018-19 year: for those who do. We’ll be actively campaigning, not just in Canberra, but be hoping to emulate the efforts of Allan Thomas (President), Colin Lawrence in the surrounding areas, which include the NSW executive and the Eastern (Secretary), Greg Struck (Treasurer), parts of the marginal electorates of Eden- Suburbs branch during the Wentworth Margaret Conners (Publicity Officer) and Monaro and Gilmore. We’d be particularly by-election within our own electorates, Anne Kirsten (Minutes Secretary). We keen to hear from members in those both of which have changed hands are pleased to welcome new committee electorates who may wish to be involved in in the past. The seat of Robertson members, Robin Connell, Mary Copping local campaigns – get in touch at the email has been identified as a marginal one. and Graham Steele who will join address below. Our continuing challenge will be to returning members Alan Baker, Margaret attempt to widen our demographic. Christiansen, Robert Conners and Hank And if you’ll be near Canberra in January, Although our membership base has Willems. make a date for our next meeting: grown considerably this year, like all 6.00pm, Tuesday 15 January 2019 at Meetings will continue to be held every two branches we are restricted to an age Fellows Bar, University House, ANU. group of sixty and older. In 2019 we months to plan for pre-Federal election will give more thought to the ways publicity activities in the Hunter region. Warm regards in which we can appeal to younger Margaret Conners Peter Lindenmayer generations. We are also hopeful Publicity Officer, ABC Friends Hunter President, ABC Friends ACT

Page 30 against funding cuts and threats of merchandise was promoted and donations Northern Rivers privatisation in various capital cities. received. A series of market stalls in different Nearly 600 signatures were taken in just Over July – September , the Tweed Valley locations in the Tweed Shire and Byron Sub branch of ABC Friends Northern a few hours. People queued to sign, to Bay were held, collecting signatures request promotional materials and to Rivers decided to support the ABC for a “letter of protest” against attacks Friends who were organising protests make donations to ABC Friends. There on the ABC . In addition ABC Friends was a palpable sense of anger about the government’s treatment of the ABC. After the Super Saturday Election all the signatures were sent, with a covering letter, requesting a response, from the then Minister Mitch Fifield (copy to the then PM Turnbull). After 2 months, with no response, a further letter was sent. Again, no response. Letters from Friends supporting the value of the ABC were published in the local press. In August approximately 150 people and a well dressed black dog attended a public rally in Lismore to protest against the ongoing budget cuts and the dumbing down of the ABC. Patrick Deegan, Labor Candidate for Page, organised the event. Joel Fitzgibbon, Shadow Minister for Rural Above and below: ‘Attendees’ at the Lismore public rally. and Regional Affairs, addressed the crowd, prior to his evening appearance on the Q&A program. It provided an opportunity to emphasise the Friends` role in supporting an independent and free public broadcaster, prepared to take on the big issues crucial to our democracy and to speak about the impact of the $254 million in cuts since the 2014 Budget. I explained that while we are prepared to support political parties which share our values, we don`t expect to be invited to rallies sponsored by the Young Libs or One Nation. Peter Dickson President ABC Friends, Northern Rivers

Parliamentary Round-up Gayle Davies

For the latest Parliamentary Roundup, please refer to ABC Friends website www.abcfriends.org.au

Page 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.

State Branches

Victoria/National Office – ABC Friends Queensland - ABC Friends Western Australia – ABC Friends GPO Box 4065 Melbourne VIC 3001 Ross McDowell Bobbie Mackley Phone: 03 9682 0073 5 Dunn Ct Bunya Qld 4055 PO Box 534 Subiaco WA 6904 [email protected] Phone: 0418 291 350 [email protected] [email protected] NSW & ACT – ABC Friends Tasmania – ABC Friends South Australia & Northern Territory Ed Davis Kate Durkin (Secretary) FABC NSW PO Box 1391 North Sydney 2059 – ABC Friends 55 Feltham St North Hobart Tas 7000 Phone: 0438 166 986 Sue Pinnock Phone: 0447 645 345 [email protected] PO Box 7158 Hutt St Adelaide SA 5000 [email protected] Phone: 0407 035 701 [email protected]

NSW/ACT Regional Branches

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

Victorian Groups

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

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