Issue 45 / Winter 2014 ABC endangered Be alert and alarmed Cutting off Australia Independent public broadcasting is CHARGE FEES for iView, the ABC’s The slashing of under threat. immensely popular catch-up online international television service Australia’s national broadcaster is being broadcasting. cut and reshaped by the Liberal-National DUMP digital radio channels Coalition Government. Prime Minister SELL ABC studios, and cut and centralise Abbott’s promise of “no cuts to the ABC” in Sydney what is left of internal TV has been broken. The public broadcaster’s production > Details page 2 political and commercial independence is in danger. MERGE some ABC and SBS operations The Abbott Government has axed Friends in INCREASE advertising on SBS Australia Network, the international tele- Parliament vision service provided by the ABC. Mr Lewis also Parliamentary Together with a cut of about $9 million per recommends a pro- Friends annum to the ABC’s operational funding, the cess for further cuts of the ABC loss of Australia Network has sliced $120 and government kicks off. million from the ABC’s budget over the next influence over the four years. ABC – the issuing of > Details page 2 Ominously, the May Federal Budget a regular Ministerial papers refer to the “efficiency saving” cut to Statement of ABC Board the ABC’s operational funds as a “down pay- Expectation to ment” on the results of the Government’s the ABC and SBS stacking efficiency study of the ABC and SBS which boards that would ahead has been underway. focus on financial Will the ABC be run The Government appears not to accept and administrative by its opponents? that the public broadcaster has a governing matters – to which the ABC/SBS would have board that is responsible for its manage- to respond, detailing how they are managing > Details page 3 ment. Communications Minister Malcolm their resources and will seek further savings. Turnbull established an efficiency review to Under the pressure of a minister who influence the broadcaster’s operations. decided before the review had barely begun ABC of the past His appointment of a former finance head that huge savings in ABC expenditure had Pete Smith recalls his of a commercial broadcasting outlet – Peter to be delivered, the ABC Board is now time at the ABC. Lewis, former Seven West Media chief considering the review’s proposals. financial officer – to suggest ways the ABC’s The very essence of the ABC is its > Details page 3 expenditure could be cut was a strong independence. The ABC Board must defend indicator that the review’s proposals would the national broadcaster’s independence. be for the ABC to operate in a more com- It must reject the Government’s attempts mercial manner. to influence the ABC’s operations. Mr Turnbull’s claim that his study would ABC Friends has called for full details of Innovating for identify savings that would have no impact the cost-cutting review to be made public. on programming is clearly absurd. Australians are entitled to know what is The secret review has now concluded. being considered for their national public Leaks reported in the media include broadcaster, why it is being proposed, and proposals to: to have their say.
News+Views is the newsletter of ABC Friends GPO Box 4065, Melbourne, VIC 3001 phone +613 9682 0073 fax +613 9682 0074 offi[email protected] www.abcfriends.org.au Illustration: Tony Sowersby
Issue 45 / Winter 2014 Page 1 ABC international broadcasting Cutting Australia off from the world The World (screened The ABC Act hasn’t been changed domestically on the ABC’s The ABC is still required to transmit news, News 24 channel and current affairs, entertainment and cultural overseas) is one program programs “to countries outside Australia” in that will suffer from the order to “encourage awareness of Australia loss of Australia Network and an international understanding of funding. Highly respected Australian attitudes on world affairs” and journalists Zoe Daniel and “enable Australian citizens living or Jim Middleton have been travelling outside Australia to obtain axed from the program and information about Australian affairs and are reported to be facing Australian attitudes on world affairs.” redundancy. By simply defunding Australia Network to shut it down the Government has circum- vented the scrutiny of the Senate on a matter An important part of the service has been of significant national importance. original content produced by ABC staff who It’s unbelievable that any government with have extensive knowledge and contacts, and the long-term interests of the nation at heart a deep cultural understanding of their part of would scale back international broadcasting We are often unaware of the importance of the region. in its own region. the ABC’s international services to countries Tragically, the outstanding work of ABC Other governments are vying for the in our region and to Australians working or International and past public expenditure is influence that international broadcasting travelling overseas. set to be squandered. affords. China, for example, is increasing its Nic Maclellan, a correspondent for Islands Unable to hand Australia Network (AN) to broadcasting investment in the Pacific. Business magazine, reported comments of Murdoch/News Corp-backed Sky News for The axing of Australia Network appears Miranda, a member of Futuna Island’s now, the Government has simply shut down to be an effort to curry favour with Rupert community disaster committee: Australia’s international television service Murdoch, whose News Corp media outlets “We rely a lot on Radio Australia when provided by the ABC and stopped its funding. campaigned for the Coalition in the last there’s a cyclone coming. We have no Key functions of Australia Network and election. telephone on this side of the island and Radio Australia have been merged in recent News Corp-backed Sky News has lobbied we often can’t hear Radio Vanuatu.” years. With the ABC’s annual budget for relentlessly for Australia’s international tele- Director of the Myer Melanesia Program international broadcasting now reduced by vision service to be handed over to it, along at the Lowy Institute, Jenny Hayward Jones, 60 percent (from $35 to $15 million) and with with public funds. However, the Government has written that domestic news broadcasters about 80 jobs to be axed, Radio Australia cannot proceed to the next step of funding across the Pacific are shrinking and in some services are also being cut. Sky News to provide the service without the cases subject to political control. Radio Australia programs Asia Pacific, support of the Senate. Some Pacific island populations rely on Asia Review, and Mornings will be scrapped, International broadcasting is of such Radio Australia to report about not only leaving no dedicated Asian program. There strategic importance that no government in international news but events in their own will be less original non-English program- the world, except Australia, has sought to country. ming. Programs like the flagship Pacific Beat outsource its service. International broadcasting is a relatively will continue, but without specialist Pacific And after a botched tender process in cheap means to increase awareness of our reporters. Instead, more of its content will be which the Murdoch media was securing and nation and build positive relations with sourced from the domestic ABC. reporting leaks that favoured Sky News, people in other countries, with all the flow- Correspondents that will disappear the last Labor government legislated for on affects that has for trade and diplomacy. from the ABC’s Asia Pacific News Centre, Australia’s national public broadcaster to It reaches beyond political leaders and diplo- which serviced Australia Network and Radio remain the provider of Commonwealth- mats – to the people of other countries. Australia, include Delhi, Jakarta and Beijing. funded international broadcasting. The ABC has secured Australia’s broad- Their demise will affect local audiences We must continue to remind the Govern- casting presence in our region by providing too. The loss of experienced Pacific ment of the foolishness of its decision to trusted programming and a reliable service correspondent Sean Dorney will impact on cut international broadcasting and urge that over many years – commencing with Radio the breadth and depth of the reports that it be reversed. And we must stop Australia’s Australia in 1939, and expanding to tele- Australia gets about important happenings national interests from being handed over vision and online. in our region. to the Murdoch dynasty.
Ensure that ALL OPPOSITION SENATORS know you want them to VOTE AGAINST any attempt to change legislation to allow Australian international broadcasting TO BE OUTSOURCED.
ABC Friends Friends in Parliament Over 50 people attended the launch of a new Parliamentary Friends of the ABC group in May. The focus of the group, which has support from politicians across different parties, is to support the ABC to deliver its charter objectives. While there is no formal link between ABC Friends and the new Parliamentary group, we are hopeful the two bodies will exchange ideas and information to advance the ABC.
Co-chairs of Parliamentary Friends of the ABC – Melissa Parke MP (Labor) and Craig Laundy MP (Liberal)
Page 2 News + Views ABC Board The Australian Broadcasting Commission Stacking ahead? The way it was Pete Smith: ABC 1957-1964, GTV9 1964 - The Government could What talent might no longer be discov- save itself the trouble ered? Veteran broadcaster Pete Smith, who of interfering in the went on to work with Graham Kennedy at ABC by merging the IMT, recalls an ABC when a messenger boy roles of ABC chairman could become a presenter and evening and communications presenters wore suits – on radio! minister. There are politicians more alive As a child in the late forties and early fifties than this one with the the radio was an all important part of leisure outlook for the job. time in the family home. In the evening the family would listen to When television began John Royle became the radio – Mum knitting, Dad reading the the main newsreader on ABV2, supported Are we retuning to the bad old days paper, and I would be on the floor looking by Barry McQueen. Gaps between programs when the Howard Government sought to up at the mantle radio. Looking up and were covered by hostesses Corinne Kirby and impose its political and commercial agenda WATCHING the radio. Jocelyn Terry delivering community service on the ABC through appointments it made In the mid-fifties, when I began at the ABC announcements, and I filled in. In those black to the ABC Board? as a messenger boy, departments of the and white TV days they even used loop films Recently, Janet Albrechtsen and ABC were spread around Melbourne. of water wheels, waterfalls and flying birds to Neil Brown, two strong critics of the ABC, The Sporting department was under the keep the viewers amused until the designated were appointed to the panel of four control of Ken Dakin. I recall one of the sports start time. that recommends to the Government trainees during that time was a young Bill I compered live variety programs like Fancy appointments to the ABC Board. Hunter who went on to star in many successful Free, supported by local artists of the day and Dr Albrechtsen, a columnist with The Australian movies. again featuring our own ABC Dance Band Australian newspaper who was previously The major role of the messenger boy was under the baton of Frank Thorn. In Sydney the a Howard government appointee to the to be driven in a Commonwealth car around dance band was conducted by Jim Gussey ABC Board, is well known for her the various ABC buildings, dropping off and and in the forties and fifties they recorded antagonism to the ABC. In a recent media picking up mail. I was also tasked with the job many a hit recording. interview, Mr Brown, a former deputy of destroying transcription recordings which The ABC Hit Parade was such a popular Liberal Party leader under John Howard, contained such wonderful radio shows as radio program that I was asked to do the said of the ABC, “I think it should be sold”. The Goon Show. (Destruction had to take same thing on television. I remember saying The nomination panel had been intro- place once the rights lapsed). “I’m happy to sit and introduce the records on duced by the former Labour government I went on to become an announcer, joining camera, but what will we show on the screen to depoliticise the process of appointments a wonderful group of voices including Keith while the hits are playing?” to the ABC Board and assess applicants Glover, John Royle, Howard Baker, Ian Neil, “You’ll be doing the show as ‘Sports View on merit. It is an approach used in Britain John Sloan, Norman Blee & Graeme Lyndon. Hit Parade’ on Saturday afternoons and we for government appointments to public ABC evening shift announcers were will provide race and sporting results on a boards, and had been long recommended required to wear dinner suits in the years credit crawl as you play each record. by Friends of the ABC. before I joined them. The Commission was As I recall the race results were typed on While Dr Albrechtsen and Mr Brown run very much along the lines of the BBC. to lavatory paper, being the most absorbent were appointed by the secretary of the A complement of some twenty announcers material that wouldn’t shine back into the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, was required to work not only on the home camera lens. The typist’s skill was in typing all Dr Ian Watt, it is widely believed their service (Melbourne metropolitan) but also on the results but missing the perforations! appointments would not have occurred the regional stations, on news reading duties Soon after, I began using a series of cut-out without government influence. and on Radio Australia’s 24 hour short-wave photos of the stars singing the songs; glued ‘’I can’t believe PM&C would make service. down onto cards which I literally “flipped” in this decision. It looks too political for the Very few general announcers conducted front of the camera. (Remember this was long public service to put these names forward,’’ their own programs under their own name. before the era of video clips.) Occasionally if was the reported response of Meredith Those who gained personality status included someone like Elvis Presley was in the Top Ten Edwards, a former deputy secretary of Russ Tyson who conducted the Breakfast the film company would provide the relevant Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. session and the Hospital Half Hour every song from the movie. The impact of having a Equally as worrying are the comments of morning from Brisbane. film clip was enormous! Communications Minister Turnbull, whose Eric Child conducted jazz programs from Without realising it, we had created the responsibility it is to make ordinary Board Sydney, as did Kym Bonython in Adelaide. granddaddy of Countdown. appointments. In an interview on ABC In my late teens I was given the job of Some twenty five years later I was invited radio at the time of the Albrechtsen-Brown conducting the ABC Hit Parade and hosting by the D Generation to return to Ripponlea appointments, he revealed a strong interest The Teenage Show with local artists perform- Studio 300 where it all started to perform in having a board comprising members ing live with the ABC Melbourne Dance Band. ‘Dude Looks Like A Lady’ on the very popular with corporate and business experience: The idea of a radio station, even a television Late Show. “I just want to say that the critical thing station, having their own orchestra on the staff I remember my time at the ABC with for members of the boards of either of seems unbelievable today. great affection and suggest that radio in those large broadcasting businesses - and The programs I hosted were broadcast its heyday was bigger than television ever they are businesses . . . . the critical thing on the national ABC network and on Radio was. A true theatre of the mind where your is that the people who go on these boards Australia throughout the British Isles, North imagination could take you to the ends of have corporate and business and manage- America and Asia. There were listeners in the earth and beyond. ment experience”. California who had special aerials mounted One position on the ABC Board is pres- on the roof of their homes to receive the ently vacant. Two further appointments This is an edited extract of Pete Smith’s full short-wave signal. will be made next year. article which is at www.abcfriends.org.au As they say, watch this space.
Issue 45 / Winter 2014 Page 3 Program changes Support the ABC What may Make a real fashion statement! become of your $20 plus postage. Purchase your cotton t-shirt at www.ilovetheabc.bigcartel.com favourite ABC T-shirts come in sizes for children and men, and fitted sizes for services and women. All profits go to ABC Friends. programs if Spread the word attacks on our If you plan to attend an event likely to be frequented by other people who have an ABC continue interest in the ABC, take some ABC Friends material with you. Postcards that call on the Government to uphold the ABC’s independence and honour its pre-election promise of ABC Friends (Vic) Vice-president, David “no cuts to the ABC” can be obtained from ABC Friends in your state. Risstrom, in his address to Melbourne’s ‘Fair Australia’ rally: ABC Friends on the job ‘Australians Baking Cakes for the ABC’ launch outside Minister Turnbull’s office, The Gardeners Corner Store, Darebin public meeting, Bust the Budget Lismore rally, Four Corners - Two Corners
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ABC Friends ABC Friends is a national campaign. It comprises ABC Friends and Friends of the ABC organisations across Australia. NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON: Glenys Stradijot NATIONAL CONTACT DETAILS: (See front page) STATE CONTACT DETAILS: at www.abcfriends.org.au or phone: (03) 9682 0073 Friends Newsletter EDITOR: Glenys Stradijot // DESIGN: Julie Cattlin // PRINTING: Arena Printing & Publishing News+Views is produced for ABC Friends by Friends of the ABC (Vic) Inc A0034181A Issued three times a year. Letters from members are welcome. Send to: The Editor, News+Views, GPO Box 4065, Melbourne, VIC 3001 or email: offi[email protected] Letters may be edited for length. Unattributed items are by the editor. Items attributed to other authors do not necessarily represent the views of ABC Friends. www.abcfriends.org.au Stay informed: Make www.abcfriends.org.au your home page. Subscribe to receive free email updates. Facebook: ABC Friends Twitter: @FriendsoftheABC Useful contacts The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister, Parliament House, Canberra 2600 ABC – phone: 13 9994. GPO Box 9994, Sydney 2001 James Spigelman AC – Chairman, ABC Board Mark Scott – ABC Managing Director Feedback on ABC programs and services: www.abc.net.au/contact Identify your electorate: http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch
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