UpdateDecember 2014 Vol 22, No. 3 Thrice Yearly Newsletter QUENTIN DEMPSTER SACKED! broadcasting journalism, Sean Dorney and Jim Middleton, and there will be 400 From the President more (for now) across all of the operations Continued page 2 of the ABC. Can the ABC survive such a devastating loss of collective experience, knowledge and culture? Clearly, the answer is NO, without radically changing Inside Update the organization itself. Are we seeing Do you feel able to help out at ABC the creation of Abbott’s “cheersquad Friends NSW 4 for Ausralia” with the collusion of ABC ABC Bias Argument Distracts From management, as we lose the very The Real Debate: The Numbers 5 people who have shone a light into the Is this the beginning of the end dark recesses of both state and federal of the ABC as we know it? 6 governments, as Quentin has repeatedly In defence of Radio National 7 done with such courage and passion for Sean Dorney 8 or the NSW ABC audience there the truth. Response from Sean Dorney to could be no more symbolic action I wrote the following to Quentin on award presentation 9 F on the part of ABC management behalf of Friends of the ABC: “We are Branch News 10 than to show Quentin Dempster the door devastated to be losing you in the insanity Malcolm in the Muddle 16 as part of the current staff pogroms. He of cutting state-based 7.30 Reports ABC not to blame 17 represents all that we value so much in as the ABC circles the wagons around Jim Middleton 18 our ABC journalists and presenters – Sydney, abandoning its charter as a Political bastardry and nincompoops experience, wisdom, skill, knowledge, national broadcaster. You have been a consign ABC to churnalism 19 understanding, generosity, sensitivity, true friend to Friends over many years, Quentin Dempster’s ABC rally humour, courage, honesty, integrity and, as well as a unique source of information, speech Page20 1 above all, trust (qualities we would struggle insight and wisdom. You have been The Lewis Efficiency Review 22 to find in the commercial media!). We willing to ‘go anywhere’ to engage with Somerville cartoon 22 have just farewelled two other icons of our branches, and share your knowledge Update Publication Information
Update is published three times a year by From the President Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. (FABC), PO Box 1391 NORTH SYDNEY 2059. Printpost approved PP245059/00002 and experience. My task as President A MEMORABLE AWARDS has been made so much easier by your To become a member phone NIGHT (02) 9990 0600 or email to instant response to my sometimes naïve [email protected] or obtuse questions – the voice of the 150 Friends gathered at the Ultimo ABC or access our website Friends has been louder and stronger Headquarters on Friday 28th November www.fabcnsw.org.au. thanks to your unfailing support.” to honour two iconic veterans of ABC broadcasting, with 84 years of service Extracts from newspapers and other Within two hours of ABC managing publications appearing in Update do not between them – Sean Dorney, for over director Mark Scott’s announcement to necessarily reflect the views of the 40 years the voice in and of Papua New members of FABC. staff on Monday 24th November that 400 Guinea and the Pacific, and Jim Middleton, Update is distributed to all members of jobs would be lost around the country, for many years the ABC’s voice from FABC, as part of the membership fee. Director of News, Kate Torney, called Update is also supplied to journalists, Canberra. We were delighted to have Jim Dempster into her office to tell him he had politicians and libraries across Australia. join us from Melbourne, but sadly Sean It is edited and produced in Sydney but no future role at the ABC. was unable to come down from Brisbane. contributions are welcome from NSW country “I will be among 300 staff retrenched and interstate branches. It was an evening to reminisce, honour, and Material may be quoted or reproduced in the first round of the ABC’s cuts,” he maintain the rage, as both were victims of from Update provided the source is said. the governments savage cuts. We were acknowledged and reproduction is sent to “This is a very emotional time for me. entertained by Jimmy Shaw and his trio, as the President FABC. “I have worked extremely hard for the well as Angela, our Membership Secretary, Would you like to receive Update in beautiful voice in “Summertime.” Thanks magazine electronically? ABC to faithfully use the opportunity it Save the planet's trees and The Friends has given me.” to Jason Lowe and his hard-working Events printing and postage costs and read Update Committee for another great night On why he was being “sacked”, magazine on your computer. Each quarter, when Update is published, you Dempster says he “only ever sought THE LEWIS REVIEW will receive an email with a link to the latest to uphold the integrity of Her Majesty’s issue (each magazine is around 0.5MB). institutions, the Parliament and the police, The so-called “efficiency review” into You can try this now by going to our in Queensland and NSW.” the ABC by Peter Lewis has, at last, website at www.fabcnsw.org.au and been released, after much lobbying and clicking on Update. Ms Torney confirmed she had met with applications under FOI by Friends and If you prefer this delivery option for future Dempster on Monday to inform him he Updates please send an email to the other interested parties. In a process that would have no future position with the Membership Secretary. has been under a cloud from the start, by ABC. Who to write… a person with an initial conflict of interest, “It is with deep regret that we lose Anyone seeking basic information about under instructions from a government writing to persons of influence might find it someone with the experience, integrity openly hostile to the ABC, the result is helpful to go to the FABC NSW website and reputation of Quentin and viewers www.fabc.org.au where there are some rather predictable, and will result, if all its and colleagues alike will greatly miss the menu items under "Be Active" leading to recommendations are followed, in more enormous contribution he has made over pages of information: Who can I write to? significant cuts to ABC staff further down such a long period,” she said. What can I say? the track. I am indebted to Richard Gates, FABC (NSW) Executive Committee Ms Torney said Dempster’s “deep former President of Northern Rivers Branch, Office Bearers understanding of the mechanics of for his dogged and persistent pursuit of President - Mal Hewitt government and his extensive contacts the report and its findings, and you will Phone: 02 4751 6227 on all sides of politics have put 7.30 NSW Email: [email protected] find Richard’s summary of the report - and before that Stateline - on top of in this Update, and his comments and Secretary & Treasurer - James Buchanan issues in NSW and ahead of the pack in Phone: 02 9371 5621 observations on it. Email: [email protected] reporting on them”. Membership Secretary - Angela Williamson “The public is aware of Quentin’s STAFF REDUNDANCY Phone: 02 4883 4048 outstanding track record as an award- CONCERNS Email: [email protected] winning journalist,” she said. I wrote to Mark Scott to express the Update Editor - Mal Hewitt PO Box 1391 N. Sydney NSW 2059 “What they don’t see is his commitment concern of Friends that the process Email: [email protected] behind the scenes, mentoring, which was being used to select staff Cartoonist - Phil Somerville encouraging and guiding colleagues. He for redundancy (the so-called “Hunger Editorial Cartoonist for The Sun Herald is passionate about the craft and role of Games”) was causing a great deal of stress (Sydney) journalism and is always keen to share [email protected] and distress to staff in a climate already his experience with those around him.” fraught with great feelings of insecurity. Layout Artist - Paul Martens [email protected] We must therefore ask the obvious I had an immediate response from Alan question of ABC Management – “Why are Sunderland, the senior manager in charge Membership Line: 02 9990 0600 you sacking him?” of the process. Alan conceded that the
Page 2 first week of discussions with staff might branches in their local activities. I wish to in a much more effective and efficient have been handled differently, and I was pay tribute to the magnificent dedication of organization, better serving the needs assured that the process was under two departing branch presidents, Margaret of our members. These changes have review, in consultation with staff and union Foy of Blue Mountains and Richard involved hundreds of hours of work, done representatives, and that I would be kept Gates on Northern Rivers, who have both always with willingness and good cheer. informed. I acknowledge the challenge for provided inspirational and highly effective Angela’s personal commitment to keeping management where, if a unit is to lose 50% leadership in two of our very strong tabs on members is legendary, as is James’ of its staff, they must retain the right mix branches. You have both given your all to diligence and efficiency (and of course of skills and experience to keep the unit the cause, and have both earned a rest, the ever present Susan as well), Chris’s functioning. although from my knowledge of both of technological mastery and Jason’s capacity you, I can’t see you resting for long. Friends for hard work and long hours. I thank them, BRANCHES TAKE UP THE FIGHT of the ABC in NSW is stronger and more as should we all. Update contains news and pictures of the effective thanks to the leadership you have However, none of us is immortal (at least I many rallies across the state in support both provided. think not!), and we are concerned that all of of the ABC, and these have been a very that skill and experience must be passed LOOKING TO THE FUTURE for powerful expression of the community’s on. In this Update you will find the job outrage at the government’s treatment FRIENDS. descriptions of each FABC office, and I ask, of the ABC. Thank you to all who have I have been enormously privileged during if you are passionate about fighting for OUR taken to the streets, or made contact my time as President of NSW FABC to ABC and would like to take a more active with your local member (especially have had the support of a wonderful and role in the fight, please consider joining coalition members) through letter writing long-serving team – Secretary/Treasurer us as an assistant in a position so that and personal visits. The government will James Buchanan, Membership Secretary experience and skill can be passed on. continue to ignore the voice of the people Angela Williamson, Webmaster Chris In these challenging times for the ABC and at its own electoral peril! Cartledge, Events and Recruitment Jason for Australia, I hope that you can all find I applaud the passion, the commitment Lowe, Minutes Secretary Geoff Brann time in the festive season to share some and the activisim of local branches and and Vice President Nance Loney. Major joy and love with others. Thank you for your branch leaders who have been so effective changes to the way we operate and service support. in these community protests. NSW FABC our membership have been implemented Mal Hewitt will continue to do all it can to support by James, Chris and Angela, resulting President, NSW Friends of the ABC
ABC Friends NSW & ACT Awards Night Gallery
Clockwise from top left: President Mal Hewitt. Jim Middleton. Angela Williamson. Jason Lowe and Mal Hewitt. MC Ed Davis.
Page 3 Do you feel able to help out at ABC Friends NSW
Succession planning for NSW Office Bearers
hile none of our office the editor. At present Mal Hewitt NSW & ACT website. In particular, bearers is planning to chooses to edit Update in addition post news items in a timely Wretire any time soon, it to his duties as President, but that manner as they come to hand. makes sense to identify suitable will not always be the case. Manage website domains, persons who are natural team Secretary Treasurer security, email forwarders and players and could step into work with our professional web the various shoes when that (currently James Buchanan) developer for structural changes. eventuates, and, if convenient, join Maintain financial accounts and Send mass emails to the the NSW Committee in the short attend to all aspects of financial membership as required. term. management, receive and Events Coordinator Please have a look at the disburse all monies using MYOB, possibilities and if you are spreadsheets and CBA netbank, (currently Jason Lowe) interested to find out more, accounts for audit and AGM, Head up the Events Committee contact our secretary James financial reports to the Committee, and manage all promotional and Buchanan at jamesbuc@bigpond. Insurances, Public Officer, receive social events for ABC Friends net.au or on 0414 604 966. and action all postal mail and NSW. Manage merchandise and coordinate general administration promotional material (e.g badges, President by Email. This position ideally T Shirts, membership forms). (currently Mal Hewitt) requires someone with financial Member of the NSW executive experience such as accounting. Represent ABC Friends to the committee. public and the media, relations Membership Secretary Campaign Manager with the ABC, liaison with Friends (currently Angela Williamson) in other States, attend functions, (this is a new position) support regional branches, chair Maintain and update the Provide support and advice to the NSW Executive Committee membership database on the ABC Friends NSW President. and the Annual General Meeting Microsoft Access, process new Trawl printed and electronic media of the Association. and renewing members on for news items related to the spreadsheet and as received ABC. Provide relevant articles to Editor of Update through the mail, extensive the Webmaster for inclusion on
Magazine member liaison including renewal the ABC Friends NSW website (currently Mal Hewitt) notices and responses, members and to the editor of the Update queries from various sources and newsletter. Act as assistant editor Gather and edit suitable content a range of other administrative of Update. Draft and once signed- for the thrice yearly magazine tasks relating to membership. off by the President, distribute Update, from a range of sources media releases. Maintain up to Webmaster including regional branches, public date media contacts. media and other contributors. (currently Chris. Cartledge) This is passed to our professional Manage and update the layout artist under the control of information on the ABC Friends
Page 4 ABC Bias Argument Distracts From The Real Debate: The Numbers
for the ABC and $500 for commercial Whatever accusation its critics can Ian McAuley broadcasting. Even if you never tune into muster against the ABC, no-one could New Matilda, 30 Nov 2014 commercial radio and television, your accuse it of promoting material over- household is paying $500 for it. indulgence – thereby contributing to In 2013 Australian companies spent $13.4 our problem of high household debt (a billion on advertising, of which $4.0 billion problem Hockey just doesn’t want to The argument by conservatives went to commercial TV, and $1.0 billion acknowledge). about ABC bias ignores the to commercial radio. And contrary to the importance of commercial-free Which brings us to the difference stories of woe from the commercial media, media, writes Ian McAuley. between the ABC and commercial media. commercial free-to-air TV is getting a The ABC caters for its customers. It has Ben Eltham has pointed out that Abbott’s growing share of advertising spending. to because of public accountability, and cuts to the ABC ‘are about appeasing the That $13.4 billion equates to about 1.5 opinion surveys show it does this very hardline right wingers in the conservative per cent of Australians’ consumption well. Commercial media also caters for think tanks, and on the Coalition back expenditure, and to avoid it you’d have to its customers, but its customers are bench’ – as has Mike Seccombe who put revert to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. In all its the firms spending on advertising, not it bluntly that‘Abbott owes the Murdoch distributional effects it’s the same as a 1.5 viewers and listeners, who are simply press, and it wants the ABC radically cut”. per cent GST. the incidental beneficiaries of the main One assertion that just won’t go away commercial transaction. is the simplistic notion that the ABC, Advertising is concentrated on particular because it is funded from taxes, is in groups. There are the young, yet to some privileged position vis-a-vis the develop their consumption patterns. It’s commercial media. The line is that all those Whatever far more profitable to influence a young worthy souls who are disgusted by the person buying their first car than it is to ABC’s bias – anti Team Australia and pro accusation its critics target 60-year-olds buying their fourth far-left Trotskyist ideas – are still forced to can muster against Toyota. subsidise it through their taxes. the ABC, no-one A whitegoods chain isn’t going to bother As put by Tom Switzer, former editor of promoting its special credit card to Spectator Australia and adjunct fellow at could accuse it of someone who can work out that it carries the Institute of Public Affairs: promoting material an effective 25 per cent interest rate. And ...those who hate talk-back radio or Rupert over-indulgence companies selling ‘image’ products won’t Murdoch’s tabloids can take solace in the find much response from mature and self- fact that they are not financing Alan Jones confident people. or Andrew Bolt. Taxpayers who subsidise the ABC to the extent of more than $1 As put by Jeremy Rifkin of Wharton billion a year do not enjoy that peace of Business School: The ABC, by contrast, is funded from mind. Advertising prays on one’s sense of Commonwealth taxes, which means, inadequacy and loneliness. It promises That’s not right, Tom. We do finance Alan because of the prominence of income tax that products and services will enhance Jones and Andrew Bolt, and generously, in Commonwealth revenue, its funding a person’s personality and identity even if we never tune into their shows, or is reasonably progressive. Because ABC and make him or her more appealing, anything else on commercial radio and viewers and listeners are over-represented attractive, and acceptable to others. television. among the better-off, that’s a reasonable In a comment on Ben’s article ‘glennwire’ deal. But commercial TV and radio are People most responsive to advertising asked the pertinent question ‘How much funded by a ‘tax’ with the same regressive comprise the audience of commercial does the commercial media cost the impact as the GST. media, and it’s an audience generally separate from the audience of the ABC. consumer – understood at the levels of Unlike the GST (which goes to state individuals, households and firms?’ governments to fund schools, policing, Quite apart from issues of political bias In response to ‘glennwire’ we can provide public transport, roads and hospitals), – which Ben Eltham and others cover a reasonably good estimate, and it’s a advertising expenditure goes to stimulating very well – that’s a reason why a strong lot more than the ABC’s comparatively consumption, with a particular bias to taxpayer-funded broadcaster is such an modest $1 billion: it’s more like $5 discretionary consumption (there’s less important part of our media mix. It serves billion. In round numbers, every year point in companies advertising stuff you’re a role that commercial broadcasters each Australian household pays $100 going to buy anyway). simply cannot fill.
Page 5 Is this the beginning of the end of the ABC as we know it?
But the ABC is bigger than its individual that your public service remit extends to The Conversation employees, and job cuts in themselves the digital platforms increasingly used by - 25 Nov 2014 are sometimes necessary for the longer- Australian audiences for their TV and radio Brian McNair, Queensland term sustainability of such institutions. No consumption. University of Technology and sector, public service media included, is Play to the ABC’s popularity, in other exempt from those processes. Adam Swift, Queensland words, and to the rise of a demographic University of Technology After all the speculation of recent months for whom mobile platforms are more and and weeks, then, after the leaks and the more important as a source of news, speeches, the lobbying by supporters information, entertainment and every other hile Australia’s elected and opponents of public service media form of content. The ABC should be about representatives argue over what and the pressures from government, cutting-edge digital innovation if it is to Wthen-opposition leader Tony where does this leave the ABC? Are we retain its place at the heart of Australia’s Abbott meant when he promised “no cuts seeing a necessary step in the digitally cultural life. to the ABC, or SBS” the night before the driven rationalisation of a 20th-century last election, directly to the electorate, In all of this, Scott is articulating the only analogue monster, necessary to make it viable strategy for all public service media while advertising himself as a leader who fit for purpose in the 21st? Or is this the could be trusted not to break his promises, organisations – no retreat to the cultural beginning of the end of the ABC as we ghetto demanded by the big private the cuts are in and the announcements of know it? what form they will take at the ABC have interests and their supporters in the News been made. To listen to ABC managing director Mark Corp media, but in the avant garde of Scott as he defended his decisions, digital innovation, harnessing its vast Most had been heavily trailed last week, there’s little doubt that he wants potential for public good. but now we know for sure that some Australians to see these cuts and the 400 jobs will go because of these cuts. But if digital is the big winner in this round changes they force on the ABC as the of cuts and restructuring, the big loser Regional facilities will be closed, services former - painful adjustments to changing and programs will be cancelled or, in would appear to be the ABC’s regional realities, but in the end good for the public Lateline’s case, moved to ABC News 24. infrastructure. Radio services are being service patient. ABC websites will be rationalised, with 100 closed in five locations. TV production in or so earmarked for the chop. State-based The ABC has successfully moved into Adelaide (though not news and current sports broadcasting will go, along with the 24-hour news and content streaming, affairs) is being wound down. The state state editions of 7.30. Scott stresses, through ABC News 24 editions of 7.30 will be replaced by a and iView – two developments which he national current affairs magazine show in It’s a catastrophe for those ABC is clearly very proud of and determined to the same slot. employees whose jobs are in the firing line. build on. The future is online, and in real They will now prepare to join the ranks of The impression given is of a substantial time, interactive and participatory, and it is the thousands let go by the commercial thinning out of the rural and regional bright. To signal the direction of change, media in the last three years. Some will editorial resource base, and a creeping the ABC will create a “Digital Network be redeployed, Scott assures his staff. metro-centralism as more and more Division”. Nonetheless, 10% is a big chunk of the production is concentrated in Sydney and workforce. Even if the emphasis will be on With this strategy, Scott is following the Melbourne. what are implied to be less-than-essential template established by the BBC when On the other hand, a new Regional management and administration posts – in faced with similar financial pressures in the Division is promised. This body, importantly an attempt to limit the damage to content last decade. This is to go on the offensive, led by someone who doesn’t live in while responding to government claims resist the private competitors who dispute Sydney, will play a strategic role in co- that the ABC is flabby and inefficient – this your right to play the online and 24-hour ordinating regional resources to improve is a major loss of human resources. news game, and confirm without apology coverage and content. As such, it is
Page 6 argued that the closure of a radio station to fulfil its public service remit, within Having been confronted with a hostile in Nowra – or the axing of Radio National’s which the provision of quality regional and government on the attack, Scott now Bush Telegraph – is less important than rural news and current affairs is a core faces his final challenge as managing the establishment of a new strategic element. Programs and schedules evolve director – to lead the ABC through approach which harnesses the power all the time, for many reasons other than implementation of these cuts in such a of digital technology to better serve the financial. Scott seems genuinely to believe way that his positive vision of the future of vast and sparsely populated Australian that the democratising, decentralising, Australian public service media is realised. continent. participatory potentials of digital tools will strengthen rural and regional services This is a risky approach. It has already Brian McNair receives funding from the rather than undermine them. generated fierce criticism from those Australian Research Council who fear any change as the thin end of In the end, and with an anti-ABC Adam Swift does not work for, consult an ideologically shaped wedge. Cutting government in charge, Australians who to, own shares in or receive funding state sports coverage is also going to be value public service have little choice from any company or organisation that unpopular. but to trust Scott, whose personal and would benefit from this article, and has no However, Scott insists that these and other professional commitment to the public relevant affiliations. cuts will not damage the ABC’s capacity service media ethos is real.
Evans was my manager for six months. I not working for the ABC – at least not being was especially pleased Fairfax published a paid to work. I also researched the interview IN DEFENCE in my own time. When I got home I actually photo of her, because it finally allowed me enquired about claiming the taxi fares, but to put a face to the name. She may have after it was explained to me how much form OF RADIO been my boss, but unlike those who came filling would be involved, I decided to cut my before her and after, she never invited me losses. to meet her. NATIONAL I recently told this to a friend of mine in The picture she draws of my colleagues ‘corporate Australia’ and he informed me I and me is not one that I recognise, but I was mad. But what I have just described is have to say Ms Evans is right about one Andrew Ford not especially unusual. I have done this sort thing. You wouldn’t find some ABC work 5 November 2014 of thing plenty of times before – nearly all the practices in ‘corporate Australia’. Here’s an overseas interviews you may have heard on example. The Music Show have been recorded at my One of the most popular interviews on The own expense. If you ask my colleagues – SMH on Monday 24th November Music Show in 2014 was with the 84-year- Geraldine Doogue, Robyn Williams, Natasha published a letter from Louise Evans, old soprano Marni Nixon. In addition Mitchell, Norman Swan, Phillip Adams – they who briefly held a managerial position to performing with the likes of Leonard will all be able to tell you similar stories and at Radio National, highly critical of Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, regale you with details of flea-pit hotels or staff culture and practices. There were she was also the singing voice of Deborah nights spent on friends’ sofa beds so as to several responses, including this one Kerr in The King and I, of Natalie Wood in save the ABC money. The fact is that Radio from Andrew Ford of The Music Show. West Side Story, and of Audrey Hepburn in National is to some extent subsidised by (It should be noted that Louise Evans My Fair Lady. Her wide range of activities its employees, and we do it because we came to the ABC from Murdoch’s News seemed just right for our Saturday morning believe in the place and want our listeners Ltd., and returned there following her show, and I’d wanted to interview her for to hear the best minds discussing the most stint at the ABC.) some time. interesting ideas. That’s why we work there. I read Louise Evans’ Fairfax op-ed piece Now Marni Nixon lives in Manhattan, and If our work can be arranged around a yoga on Monday morning with a mixture of RN was never going to pay for me to go class, what is wrong with that? Sometimes, interest and revulsion. The latter response there. But I was due to be in New York I confess, I have popped out to buy ‘fresh was partly because I knew that, at that for a few days in April on other business, produce’. More often, though, I can be very moment, a large number of my ABC and offered to squeeze in the interview. found working through lunch, eating a colleagues, some of them friends, were My producer made contact, and while sandwich at my desk. Radio National is a receiving redundancy notices. But I also the dates didn’t quite work, I found that flexible workplace. Perhaps that’s one of the felt sickened by the tone of the piece, if I delayed my flight home by a day we reasons its broadcasters are so loyal. Some particularly when it came to the cartoonish could meet. Ms Nixon didn’t disappoint. of those loyal broadcasters have just lost portrayal of Radio National. It’s easy to She even gave me an impromptu blast of their jobs and, unlike Louise Evans, I cannot see the positive side of that. mock, easy to mention “yoga classes” and ‘The Rain in Spain’, though, sadly, after I’d “fresh produce” from Paddy’s Market. I packed away my recorder. About the author Andrew Ford was a little surprised not to read the word I paid for the extra night in the hotel myself. Andrew Ford is an award-winning composer, “latte” in among the clichés. I paid all my travel costs, including the writer and broadcaster. His books include For nearly 20 years, I have worked for the taxis to and from her home on the Upper The Sound of Pictures: Listening to the ABC two days a week as the presenter of West Side. I paid for my meals. And I Movies from Hitchcock to High Fidelity and The Music Show on Radio National. Louise recorded the interview on a day that I was In Defence of Classical Music.
Page 7 Sean Recipient of the 2014 Broadcasting Excellence Dorney Award from NSW Friends of the ABC
with the West Papuan rebels fighting for or most of the last 40 years, Sean • Widely acknowledged Dorney has been the voice of Australia independence in the neighbouring Indonesian province. as Australia’s leading F on radio and television. But his gentle journalist in covering cadence, “bruised by a north Queensland But colleagues - and rivals - only ever saw the Pacific accent,” he jokes, isn’t a voice that many Dorney as scrupulously fair. Australians would immediately recognise. • Had three postings “His journalism is from a different era in to PNG – the first Dorney has reported on the South Pacific for many ways,” says Mary-Louise O’Callaghan, in 1974, just before the ABC since 1974, starting in Papua New who for many years served as the Fairfax independence. Guinea. In the decades since he has traipsed correspondent in the South Pacific, and back and forth across each of the tiny later with News Limited. The pair were • Famously the only independent nations in the neighbourhood. often the only ones reporting the region and person to be deported He’s covered coups, corruption and natural O’Callaghan says Dorney was the kind of and honoured by the eruptions - a warlord once put a price on his reporter who always understood that once PNG Government. head and he’s twice been deported. a story is broadcast, there was no taking it • Also deported by the “Sean is the grandfather of Pacific politics,” back. Facts needed to be carefully checked, Fiji government in says Titi Gabi, a reporter and managing especially in the Pacific, where rumours are 2009. director of PNG Loop, a news website rife. • Won a Walkley with a growing profile in Australia’s closest But a number of staff are dismayed that Award in 1998 for his neighbour. “He knows PNG politics like the dumping of Australia Network - what coverage of the Aitape the back of his hand … we learned about was a fee-for-service contract run for the tsunami ourselves from Sean.” Foreign Affairs department and subject of a • Winner of 1998 PINA Dorney certainly has some impressive and rancorous 2011 tender - has also cruelled Pacific Media Freedom unique achievements in what colleagues Radio Australia, which had long stood alone. Award. universally applaud as a distinguished career Dorney revelled in telling stories about the • Awarded the inaugural in the Pacific. He arrived in PNG in the year Pacific for the Pacific because he could Australian Council before before the country’s independence, assume a measure of local knowledge - not for International just 23 years of age, seconded from the have to “dumb it down” for an Australian Development (ACFID) ABC in Townsville to the local National audience that knows so little about the Media Award in 2012 Broadcasting Commission. He delivered region. He could appear grumpy at times, regular radio updates about the fledgling especially with the fly-in, fly-out habits of • Awarded an MBE by nation’s constitutional debates. Australian media who might turn up at the PNG Government in annual Pacific Island’s Forum trailing the 1991 for services to Around the same time, Dorney married broadcasting and sport Pauline Nare, the first female broadcaster prime minister, but did not understand the local issues. (he captained the PNG on Manus Island. They had two children rugby league national and in 1979, Dorney took the job as ABC Indeed, as Dorney’s former ABC colleague team, the Kumuls, for correspondent in Port Moresby. He immersed Graeme Dobell puts it: “His journalism two years). himself in the local political scene, getting to can count as one contribution to the know many of the key players who would understanding PNG developed of it itself as • Received an AM in shape the country’s future for years to come. a country. He did the same duty for South 2000 in recognition of his service to But he upset those in power, too. In 1984, Pacific regionalism, the idea that these newly independent island states could also have Australia as a foreign Dorney was on the receiving end of a correspondent deportation notice for having helped television a collective South Pacific identity. That’s program Four Corners put to air an interview quite an achievement for one man with a with James Nyaro, a bush commander microphone.”
Page 8 Response from Sean Dorney to award presentation:
I must apologise that I and Papua New Guinea - will shrink for thinking that I must have had a cannot be there in Sydney even further. hyphenated name: “Sean Dorney-Port- tonight for this award When my job was eliminated, the ABC Moresby”. presentation - an award stated that coverage of the Pacific For the past 15 years - up until August that does touch me deeply. would be done by our correspondents anyway - I was based in Brisbane in Port Moresby and Auckland. But covering the rest of the Pacific - there These are tough days for the ABC! as you have probably heard our ABC are 13 independent nations out there Jim Middleton and I were amongst the bureau in Auckland is now being shut and half a dozen territories. Most of early casualties when more than 20 down too. what I reported on was never heard or million dollars a year of funding from the Why is it that the Australian media in seen in Australia. But out there in the Department of Foreign Affairs for the general pays so little attention to this Pacific Islands where Radio Australia ABC’s international television service, region where Australia is a such a major and Australia Network actually had an Australia Network, was cancelled in the player? John Howard used to call the appreciative audience they probably budget in May. Pacific “our patch”. Why is Australia’s got sick of hearing and seeing me! We both lost our jobs on August the “patch” so comprehensively ignored? I Unfortunately, with the demise of 20th. do not understand it. Australia Network and the related slashing of Radio Australia’s specialist Hundreds more will be lost to the ABC And I think it is very telling about what is services our future influence out there in the coming month. happening geo-politically in this region will not be what it was. I never sought a redundancy (although that the Chinese News Agency, Xinhua, To the New South Wales Friends of the the payout turned out to be something has established a bureau in Suva. That ABC: thank you for this award. I really that pleased my bank manager). I really happened at about the same time as do appreciate it because it shows me wanted to stay with the ABC covering the Australian News Agency, Australian that you understand, if others do not, the Pacific for our domestic audiences. Associated Press, closed down its only the truly important role that Austalia But that request was turned down - and Pacific bureau in Port Moresby. The has - or should have - in our immediate I can appreciate why with the size of the Chinese can see the importance of the neighbourhood, Oceania. cuts that have been revealed this week. Pacific even if we in Australia can not! Good night and thanks. It disappoints me enormously that the Let me conclude by acknowledging that already limited coverage of events in the ABC gave me a great career. I spent Regards, our immediate neighbourhood and the 17 years as the ABC Correspondent in Sean part of the world that I spent most of my Port Moresby. I used to joke that people career reporting on - the Pacific Islands in the region could have been forgiven
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Page 9 participate and many of our members were there. The rally was addressed by Stephen Branch News Jones MP (Throsby) and Sharon Bird MP (Cunningham), both members of ABC for afternoon tea where he continued to Friends Illawarra. Local Greens Councillor Illawarra be bombarded with questions from newly Jill Merrin and Labour Council Secretary enthusiastic ABC Open fans. Arthur Rorris also addressed the crowd. ABC Friends Illawarra ABC Open To explore ABC Open for yourself go to There was a big variety of banners, flags On a Sunday afternoon in mid-November https://open.abc.net.au/ or ask Dr Google and all speakers wore ‘Save Our ABC’ 2014 ABC Friends Illawarra had afternoon to find it for you. Ask your local ABC Open Friends’ badges. Local ABC radio & TV tea with Sean O’Brien from ABC Open. producer to enlighten your local ABC staff were there to record the event. So what is ABC Open? That’s what we Friends’ branch on the workings of this wanted to know and Sean was only too wonderful free community facility. keen to enlighten us on this wonderful, free Blue Mountains Chris. Cartledge and unique ABC service. 2014 has been a very busy for the ABC With almost ten and half thousand No ABC Cuts Rally - Wollongong Friends in the Blue Mountains. This year contributors Australia wide and over Around 200 angry protestors massed has been an annus horribilis for the ABC 65,000 stories published we soon realised outside the Wollongong Town Hall on and SBS. The reality of the existence, or we were missing out on something special. Friday 21 November 2014 to protest not, of the ABC, and what it meant to have Sean is one of the twelve ABC Open the cuts to ABC funding announced by an Abbott led government in Canberra producers in NSW, there are 45 across Communications Minister Turnbull a couple started to show its disdain for a public Australia. You can find your local producer of days before. broadcaster almost immediately. on the ABC Open website (details below). The ‘Our stories. Our future. Our ABC’ rally An “Efficiency Review” was set-up, led All across Australia, people are creating was organised by the CPSU & MEAA and by Peter Lewis, a person who worked for great videos, photos and written stories was one of many such rallies around the Commercial Media all his life, and who to share. ABC Open brings these stories country in a co-ordinated week of protest. only resigned from Channel 7 AFTER together for all to see. They also run free The ABC Friends Illawarra was asked to the Review was finished. This review workshops and can give you skills training was shrouded in utmost secrecy. Indeed and advice on how to create and share it still hasn’t been made public, and your story in whatever format you choose. apparently only small sections of it were Sean came to the Illawarra Aboriginal made available to the Managing Director Cultural Centre in Wollongong with all the of the ABC. It still hasn’t been tabled gear to give the fifty ABC Friends Illawarra in Parliament. The May Budget brought present a live demonstration of ABC down cuts to Funding for both ABC and Open’s potential and we were impressed. SBS. Since then other sinister pieces of ABC Open producers are jack-of-all-trades news were released. The contract with working in the field helping, training and Shanghai Broadcasting for The Australia moderating posted stories. Network over 5 years was broken by the Government , and out it went, together After the presentation and the draw of Stephen Jones MP & Sharon Bird MP surrounded by protestors at the with Radio Australia. Both of these the obligatory raffle (to pay for the venue, Wollongong Rally networks were invaluable overseas for the afternoon was free) Sean joined us communicating Australian news, and cemented good relationships with all the countries that received the broadcasts. They also brought in much needed revenue. Several highly experienced and talented journalists lost their jobs at that time. Funding cuts seem to continue, but losing so many skilled staff from every department is diminishing the quality and value of the ABC. Today the SMH is hinting ( from what it knows of the Lewis Report) at a Government led role for the ABC.. as in being “a voice for government”. Very, very worrying. Blue Mountains Branch members have tried to be everywhere when any Rally or Protest was within travel distance. Some of A great team - ABC Illawarra Friends Ian Ward & Jan Kent front of house our members attended almost every event where we could show support and praise Page 10 Blue Mountains Branch of the Friends. Reluctantly, I have had to give up
the position, but I am leaving it in the
competent hands of Barry Redshaw, who will bring a different style to our thriving Left: Mal and enthusiastic branch. Hewitt and Quentin My sincere and utmost thanks must be Dempster given to my Secretary, the hard working at the State Conference. Below: Blue Mountains Branch rally at Ultimo,
for our wonderful Aunty ABC. Whenever made for a very satisfying Conference. we would put out the call for numbers on Among the many speakers, Quentin the ground, in Sydney, or nearby Windsor, Dempster gave a rousing lecture on the Belmore or locally, our members would reality of life at the ABC at this time, and rally. We attended Rallies in the City, in front the feeling of impending doom. of our local M P’s office ( Louise Markus, The year ended with the AGM and a Lib),outside the Ultimo ABC Studios to enlightening discussion between Russell coincide with an ABC Board Meeting, in Stapleton from RN, and a former ABC Belmore Park, and others. As a group we staffer of 20 odd years, and one of our also walked in local Festival Parades, in members, Ron Fuller, on the effort and Springwood, and at the Winter Festival professionalism of putting together a at Katoomba. We had colourful banners, quality RN radio programme. Very well stickers, balloons, and pamphlets. One of received. Top: Penny Tayler on the train. our talented members made a combination Above: Tanya Plibersek joins us. This will be my last contribution to of well known ABC musical themes into a Below: Scott Ludlam addresses Update in my role as President of the CD to play continuously as we walked. It the crowd was great to see the young ones dancing to The Bananas and Bob the Builder, and the slightly older people swaying to the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries. Letter writing has been organised by a couple of skilful writers and have been sent to local MPS and Senators, and the local Newspaper, as well as the Minister for Communications. August was the month for the State Conference of the ABC Friends. Blue Mountains Branch was invited to host the Conference, and what a great time we had in doing so. Typical mountain weather greeted all the delegates, but an agenda of excellent speakers gave much food for thought, and the convivial atmosphere
Page 11 Our ABC and will continue to be actively elderly who have spent their whole lives Branch News involved in supporting the ABC. loyally following the national broadcaster. The rally certainly has energised many Libby Blackburn, and her partner and Hunter of the Hunter Branch Friends’ members Web Master, Tony Young. The Minutes judging by their passionate comments The Hunter Branch held its AGM on 4 Secretary, Haidee Roper has my grateful and financial donations that have been October and as a result we have four thanks, as does my lovely Vice President, subsequently received, as well as new Committee members, Linda Forbes, Alison Burnard, and suave and charming memberships from ABC supporters who Rupert Mazlin and Margaret and Robert Treasurer Bob Macadam. To all the want their voice to be heard by the Federal Conners (joint publicity officers). Committee including our Newsletter Editor Government. In light of the news that the Federal Garth Taylor, and Membership Secretary, Sadly, we have to report that following the Government was proposing to cut its the dedicated Janelle Clark, thank you for ABC Managing Director’s announcement funding to the ABC, the Committee all your loyalty and friendship. on 24 November about the implications of decided it was critical to contact the1233 May you all the state wide membership the Federal funding cuts, the 1233 ABC ABC Newcastle radio station to establish of ABC Friends have a safe and happy Newcastle station will be downgraded a positive and long-lasting working Festive Season, and long may we keep a from its Metropolitan status to that of a relationship between ABC Friends and viable and independent ABC. Regional station and it will lose a third of the ABC staff as well as to hear the staff its current 27 staff members. One of the Margaret Foy members’ concerns as to how the budget station’s favourite presenters, Ex- President cuts were likely to affect the local station. Carol Duncan will have her “Afternoons” ABC Friends Blue Mountains Branch The first contact was made when Jill program cut and it is anticipated that this Come to Sydney Emberson, presenter of the “Mornings” timeslot will be filled by a Sydney program Some eighteen members from our branch program on Radio1233 interviewed after her departure. joined thousands at the Our Stories, Branch President, Allan Thomas and Hunter branch members have been Our Future, Our ABC rally in Sydney on as a result of that informative interview urged to express their views to their November 22 to hear speakers on the a number of listeners joined the ABC Federal representatives about the serious issue of, dare we say, the apparent blatant Friends. implications of the funding cuts on 1233 destruction of our ABC by the Abbott The second contact took place at the ABC Newcastle. Government. ABC station offices and Committee Margaret & Robert Conners (Publicity Some of us travelled down on the same members agreed that our discussion with Officers – ABC Friends - Hunter Branch) carriage and it made the long journey down the station’s representatives was very quite a lot of fun. We all made sure our productive and useful in understanding signs were very visible to people entering the important role which 1233 ABC Northern Rivers the carriage. Newcastle plays in reflecting the ethos of the local community. A number of creative It’s been a busy time for the Northern The weather in Sydney was very hot, the initiatives have been implemented by the Rivers Branch over the last few months rally was very crowded, (an extremely good with a variety of activities including a public thing) and by the time the speakers really Radio 1233 presenters in recent times and interview with ABC reporter Mark Willacy got going there was not too much room these had ensured the station’s popularity about his book on the Fukushima disaster to move. Packed in and under the sun, and loyalty from the region’s listeners. Fukushima : Japan’s Tsunami and the we stood and listened as all the speakers Prior to the “Our Stories. Our Future. Our inside story of the nuclear meltdown. spoke passionately, pulling no punches ABC” rally which was held at lunch time on Mark was interviewed by Jeanti St. Clair, about what is happening and will continue 19 November in Civic Park, Newcastle, an Lecturer in journalism at Southern Cross to happen to our independent National urgent newsletter was emailed or mailed University at Byron. We had a full house Broadcaster because of these decisions. out to inform members about the “Phone on the day. Mark gave us some useful your Coalition Politician Day” promoted Our mantra rang out loud and clear on a insights into the way the Japanese media by the ABC Friends NSW & ACT. Hunter number of occasions. NO IFS, NO BUTS, operates. It is certainly not the arms- members were also urged to attend the NO ABC CUTS. length, independent ABC we have in rally that was organised at short notice by Blue Mountains members Bev and Barry Australia. Mark is a great entertainer and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance Redshaw also travelled to Canberra for the his book reads like a thriller. Great guest. and the Community and Public Service rally on November 25. Speakers including Union. The Branch also held a ‘pop-up’ show Bill Shorten, Scott Ludlam, Nick Xenophon of support for the staff of the ABC at its and people from the ABC and unions Estimates of the numbers who attended Lismore Office just recently. The event addressed a crowd of around 300 people. the Newcastle rally varied from 150 was well attended and we delivered (Newcastle Herald) to more than 250 by Their placard “Blue Ties Tell Lies” was morning tea to staff in the form of the rally organisers. What was very clear photographed and filmed with a shot on cupcakes with the ABC logo on them. for all to observe was the widespread Lateline. They were asked if they would Staff were very grateful and we managed disquiet expressed about the future of donate their placard to the National Library to get some air time talking about the the ABC and SBS and also the differing Archives, which according to Barry “of impact of the Lewis review on ABC staff ranges in age of Novocastrian attendees course we did”. and the ABC. – from youngsters who are just becoming Our members are very passionate about loyal ABC viewers and listeners to the We were amazed by the level of support
Page 12 The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP Minister for Communications
24 November 2014 Minister: I am writing on behalf of the Northern Rivers Branch of the Friends of the ABC to express our deep concern and irritation about what you are doing, as Minister for Communications, to the ABC. You should be clear that we are not a naïve or uncritical ‘cheer squad’ for Above: Norhtern Rivers AGM. the ABC but we do feel obliged to speak up because of events of the last few Below: Mark Willacy days in defence of our National Broadcaster. What is happening to the ABC is, in our view, both unprecedented and irresponsible. It is damaging to the morale of ABC staff and ultimately to our society. Quite apart from the issue of the broken promise from the Prime Minister regarding ‘...no cuts to the ABC….’ , which can’t be dressed up as something else when it was clearly a cut, there is the problem of your failure to make available the ‘Lewis efficiency review’ for public scrutiny even in a redacted form. It was, after all, the basis on which you made cuts to the ABC, and we as tax payers are entitled to know what the evidence is which drove your decision. It is not good enough to say it is ‘commercial in confidence’ or to use one of the standard excuses to hide the Report from public scrutiny. The Lewis review must be made public. Without transparency there can be no accountability. And ‘trust me’ as a guarantee holds no water with constituents. We need to see the evidence. The whole matter has not been helped by the appointment of Mr Lewis to the Board of the ABC which is perceived as many as a reward for delivering what the government wants and probably a stepping stone for Lewis to pick up a senior role in management of the ABC if your dual management model we also had from the passing public currently afloat in the media and in Senate Estimates is put in place for who tooted their car horns as they management of the ABC. drove past. We had significant media While you have not made the decision about the cuts to ABC programming, coverage of the event. There were some your decision to cut funds necessarily means cuts to programming. It is great signs on the day. naïve to think or state otherwise. The branch has also been active in Of particular disappointment to many is the government’s decision to cut writing letters to various politicians the Australia Network. The loss of soft diplomacy is considerable. While including Minister Malcolm Turnbull not your decision, you are part of a government which made that decision. with copies to our local National Party How disappointing. It was a very cheap and effective method of diplomacy. Member Kevin Hogan and Senator Bill Minister you should be aware of the impact cuts will have on northern NSW Heffernan. Bill Heffernan phoned about because of our demographics. The ‘deep north’ has an older profile and so an hour after the letter was sent and will be differentially affected by the cuts, particularly Radion National and not only had a lengthy chat about his Classic Radio. It is this group which has a strong ABC listener base. I can concerns for regional ABC but left the assure you they are not happy. Many do not have access to broadband and door open for future communications prefer to listen to programs on the radio. Even then there are transmission about the ABC. black spots. And the copper network in this region is not only failing but We have just held our AGM in cannot meet current demand. For example where I live we cannot access Bangalow. Long-time FABC supporter ADSL 2 and delivery speed is sometimes no better than dialup. Frankly and Vice-President Jill Keogh is our you need to revisit your NBN policy which is on a ‘hiding to nowhere’, but new President. Retiring (probably that’s a separate issue I will not canvas here but pertinent to delivery of ABC not quite the word to use!) president digital product and cuts. Richard Gates will continue to provide Minister, please listen to what is being said. The indelibility of negative a supporting role to the Branch and a experience is not a good look politically. strong interest in the activities of FABC. Membership around 200 with four active Dr Richard Gates, President sub-branches. Northern Rivers Branch, Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. Dr Richard Gates President (retired)
Page 13 Branch News A Branch in Action Northern Rivers picture gallery.
The Hon Justine Elliot MP Federal Member for Richmond
21 November 2014
Dear Justine, As a supporter of public broadcasting I was dismayed to learn that the ABC and SBS will be subject to significant budgetary funding cuts over the next 5 years. This is particularly galling considering that, when in opposition, the coalition government undertook to not cut funding to the ABC. Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull, recently on the ABC 7.30 report, referred to the cuts as an ‘efficiency dividend’, implying that the public broadcaster could provide the same level of service with a reduced budget, and that the proposed cuts to the ABC’s budget did not actually amount to a cut in funding! I understand that the proposed cuts are based on an efficiency report prepared by a financial officer from the commercial media. However, as a public broadcaster, the ABC is not a business in the way that commercial broadcasters such as Sky News and Channel 7 are. Although I realise that the ABC and SBS need to operate within a corporate structure, there is no advertising, and content is a priority. Consequently, the ABC is bound to suffer because of its commitment to editorial independence and its commitment not to take advertising. I also understand that the cut of $254 million dollars to the ABC budget over 5 years is likely to lead to the loss of 500 jobs. This will risk degrading, or ‘dumbing down,’ the content that is the essence of the ABC. What I also find annoying is Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s past criticism of the ABC as being ‘unpatriotic’, for example in its coverage of the Edward Snowden leaks and asylum seeker abuse claims. The ABC is a longstanding part of Australia’s cultural fabric, and is virtually the only media organisation which subjects governments of the day to regular close scrutiny. What I sense is that some public figures are attempting to undermine the ABC, and that we need more strong voices in parliament to stand up for the public’s right to an independent national broadcaster. Retaining the ABC’s quality of broadcasting and independence from commercial and government influence is crucial. Additionally, it is important that our national broadcaster be kept as an outstanding cultural institution, and not run as a business. Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for all you have done as our member for Richmond.
Yours faithfully, Greg Newland FABC NSW - Northern Rivers Branch
Page 14 Matt Peacock (centre) with Branch Members
as our Federal Members seem to have Central Coast Branch gone into hiding on industrial sites rather than shop fronts. Letters of protest to Lucy Our third guest speaker for the year was Wicks, Member for Robertson, have been Matt Peacock (15th August). He became sent individually by Audrey McDonnell and the first staff-elected director of the public Klaas Woldring and others, expressing their broadcaster since the Gillard government concerns about cuts to the ABC, and Mr. reinstated the position. Abbott’s back flip about ABC funding. Mr Peacock, a former London, New York John and Margaret Hale were 2 out of 400 and Washington correspondent, beat eight people who attended a quickly arranged other candidates to the job. About 1800 Protest outside a Board Meeting at ABC ABC staff voted in the postal ballot, which Ultimo. It was organized by Get Up, The was overseen by the Australian Electoral Public Service Union and ABC Friends. The Commission. crowd was addressed by Jonathon Holmes Matt talked about his role on the ABC and Quentin Dempster. Jonathon Holmes Board, which was not just to represent staff presented a petition of 57,000 signatures but also to be a source of information about although no one would come out to accept the organisation. He wrote Killer Company, this petition. A similar petition by GetUp and a book on the former Australian asbestos ABC Friends was presented to Lucy Wicks manufacturer James Hardie, which was M P. made into the ABC dramatic mini-series The March in August was attended in Devil’s Dust. Gosford by some dedicated members The ABC Friends Biennial NSW Conference despite the appalling weather. Klaas opened was held on 16/17th August 2014, the proceedings by talking about the ABC hosted by The Blue Mountains Branch Friends and the Government’s cuts to the in Katoomba. Klaas Woldring and Ross National broadcaster. He encouraged the McGowan were our delegates. Ross wrote PM to leave the ABC well alone as it was a comprehensive Report of the Conference performing an excellent job in a very efficient for our branch. manner. He argued that the combination of public and private broadcasting had worked Our committee member June Ashton well in Austrralia and there was no case at all attended the NSW AGM (held on 27/9/14). to change that situation. We are grateful to June for making her excellent Report available to us. A large protest meeting near Sydney ‘s Town Hall on 22nd November was attended by Many people at both the NSW AGM and several Central Coast members who found the State Conference believed that the themselves pictured in the Sydney Morning attitude of ABC Management seemed to be Herald, complete with our banner. one of appeasement. Is Mark Scott pussy footing around the problems instead of The ABC has provided a new venue for the standing up to the Government? local studio in Gosford recently. It is expected to be opened officially in January. Much of the subsequent period was devoted to campaigning against the A further protest meeting was held on 24th forthcoming “efficiency audit” and cuts to November in front of that studio. Several ABC the ABC. Our membership grew rapidly Friends attended and spoke. The protest was during the year to approx. 200. Large prominently reported by the local media. A number of bumper stickers, information photo is supplied herewith. brochures were distributed. The branch will hold their Christmas Lunch It is noted that demonstrations outside our on Saturday 6th December. Local Members Offices, Gosford, as were Klaas Woldring, conducted in May, are no longer possible Convenor Page 15 ontrary to what many think, paid trips to the Middle East for fun under Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for the guise of reporting. A jihadi fun tour. CCommunications in the Abbott Malcolm’s efficiency review should be government, is not the effusive ‘friend of seen for what it is: Political interference the ABC’ protecting Aunty from the usual with Aunty under the guise of a confected ideological ‘barnacles’ which populate economic necessity. But that’s only for his Party, and the political Philistines and starters. media spivs dominating what’s left of the There’s more. At the Senate Estimates political and economic landscape. Hearing where the Mark Scott was Note, I left out ‘environmental’………..that questioned for four hours by friendly landscape has been well and truly trashed and not-so friendly Senators [riveting already! Climate what…? TV by the way….better than all those Rather Malcolm seems to be branding Malcolm bloody English detective stories where himself as a ‘Chainsaw Dunlap’ the whole community has been killed off], acolyte through the ritual of financial there was lots of discussion about the dismemberment of an independent in the role of the ABC’s General Manager and ABC using the tried and true methods Malcolm’s agenda to separate the editorial of ‘efficiency’ and ‘effectiveness’ review. and programming roles of the GM from My, aren’t they abused words, the sort Muddle the financial role as seen in commercial of thing which should bring on a Royal From FABC’s Undercover media. Commission! Agent in Canberra The problem with the separation of No blood on Malcolm’s hands though. roles, particularly when the ‘financial’ He hired through his department a Chief programming would be political bastardry is not the servant of programming but Financial Officer with a commercial on the part of the ABC Board and an equal partner or worse, the boss of background to do the job. And a particularly its General Manager. And the organisation, money come first and couple of other assistant commercial yes, there was no need for any change programming, a poor second. organisations were brought in to help. to programming. Just an office tidy up to The inevitable outcome is a ‘race to the No questions asked about whether make things more ‘efficient’ and ‘effective’. bottom’ for quality and content and the commercial ‘benchmarking’ (another of my Get rid of all those back offices and Leftie things we expect of an independent ABC. favourite weasel words) standards were wine bars and outside broadcast vans. The race is already on with the half billion valid or appropriate for a review of a public The Australia Network had already been dollars in cuts imposed by the coalition broadcaster. killed off so, no worries there. Don’t you government a mere down payment. worry about that! Earlier this year most of us had been left A warm-up borne out of economic with the impression that it was Malcolm’s Sadly, Malcolm’s presented no convincing necessity. department which initiated the efficiency concrete evidence to support his case Malcolm will get his way. The ABC review of the ABC. But it was Malcolm for financial cuts. Yep, the justification’s General Manager position will be carved who initiated the review and Malcolm who all definitely in the Lewis Report, but up and the wallet will win. Why else would pushed for Peter Lewis from a commercial none of you can see it. It’s ‘commercial the efficiency review judge be put in as chief-financial-officer broadcasting in confidence’. Nope, far too sensitive to executioner on the ABC Board! background, to do the job be released to the plebs. Why it might be ABC quality and independence will suffer misused against the ABC. Trust me, all the Malcolm’s location on that great scale of and the decline in the ABC will be used evidence is there. Trust me, there will be public trust was well and truly revealed on as an excuse to review the ABC’s Charter. no cuts to the ABC. Trust me ABC programs Q&A and the 7:30 Report It goes like this: ‘Do we really need an during the last week of November, and it’s an efficiency dividend which must independent ABC in the digital age when in evidence given at Senate Estimates be seen in the context of what my mate there are some many opportunities for by ABC GM Mark Scott live on ABC24. Jo and I said earlier, a long time ago. other opinions in the market place? The Watching Malcolm was like watching those Definitely not a cut. Tony’s comments market place rules, OK?’ about ‘no cuts’ have been taken out of with the winning scores at football match ‘Most of those old folk who listen run down the clock to the end of the context! He didn’t really mean “…no cuts to the ABC…” when he said it. It wasn’t to all that leftie Radio National and game. Empty rhetoric. A Q&A with verbal environmental nonsense and ‘highbrow’ nonsense and irritability. Whoa, was this written down at the time. Ipso facto, it doesn’t count. Now there! music will be dead soon, and sooner if really the Malcolm we all knew and loved?! we impose the $7 co-payment for a visit Malcolm’s efficiency review of the ABC The Lewis Review was done in no time to the doctor. We need to be prepared was really a vote of ‘no confidence’ in ABC flat effectively guided by the ideologically- for the future. Cut and cut again. Nurse, General Manager Mark Scott. If Scott had driven findings of the almost now forgotten nurse, more scalpel blades. been doing his job, Aunty wouldn’t be the Commission of Review. corpulent, aging dame (appropriate to use Yep, Auntie needs a make-over. You can Yes, there was back-of-house fat to trim that word now. Definitely politically correct) hear the chainsaw in the background. said Malcolm on Q&A, and of course she is, populated by left wing commie And Malcolm’s in the muddle running the there would be no impact on front-of- bastards who spend all their time polishing Brief for his political master Tony Abbott. house programming. Any change to their dreadlocks and taking all expenses Malcolm, whatever happened?
Page 16 ABC not to blame for commercial broadcasters’ loss of revenue
Each commercial media company has Edinburgh International Television Festival Emma Alberici much more to fear from Michelle Phan in 2012, Rupert Murdoch’s daughter SMH - 30 Nov 2014 and Bethany Mota than from Peppa Pig. Elisabeth (chairwoman of Shine Group) Together, Phan and Mota reach 14 million praised the BBC for being furthest young people every day through their ahead in recognising that “the new world ven the collapse of the public YouTube channels. Phan teaches them demands new ecosystems”. Unlike her broadcaster would be unlikely how to wear make-up while Mota provides brother, James, she isn’t threatened by E to restore the rivers of gold as fashion and lifestyle tips. Phan makes $5 a strong public broadcaster committed audiences move to online content. million a year from cosmetics companies. to putting viewers, readers and listeners Nineteen-year-old Mota just signed a first. They no longer want their news on Let me dive in to the murky waters of fashion branding deal that’s estimated their desktops. Increasingly they want commercial media and clean them up for to be worth $50 million. Then there’s to consume news on their tablets and you. These were once rivers of gold where 19-year-old Perth actor Troye Sivan. phones. More people are now reading the likes of Fairfax Media and News Corp You’ve probably never heard of him but 12 the news on their smartphones than ambled uninterrupted by as much as a anywhere else and, far from it being a clown fish. Then, about 20 years ago, young person’s trend, the fastest growth the sharks began to circle. First it was is coming from the 55-69 year olds (53%). Realestate.com.au (1995) then Carsales. com.au and Seek.com.au (both 1997). It’s probably not After making an unequivocal public Each of those businesses is now worth worth mentioning promise to quarantine the ABC budget more than Fairfax, publisher of The Sun- during at least its first term, the Federal Herald. Nine Network chief Government shut down the corporation’s Australia’s newspaper and magazine David Gyngell’s quip international broadcasting arm and industry doesn’t have a problem attracting to Scott recently that subjected the ABC to an “efficiency readers. The challenge is to work out how his “tea lady” makes review” as a pretext for further cuts of to make money out of journalism now $254 million over four years. Presumably that they no longer enjoy a monopoly more money than him the report makes no mention of the $50 over the distribution of information. million that’s been saved and reinvested The same is true of the commercial over the past five years. Cast your mind broadcasters. Advertisers wanting to reach back to 1987 when the ABC consisted mass audiences were once beholden to of just one TV channel and triple j was weeks ago the millions of followers of his Channels Seven, Nine and Ten. Today, only available in Sydney. There were just YouTube channel helped propel his debut there’s Skype (2003) Facebook (2004) 38 local radio sites plus two national album to number one on the iTunes charts YouTube (2005) Twitter (2006) and networks (Classic FM and Radio National). in 55 countries. Time Magazine has listed Instagram (2010). They’re all chasing Twenty five years later there are five ABC him as one of the world’s most influential those same banks, insurance companies, TV networks including iview, five million teens. The media advertising apocalypse retailers and fashion houses that used to pages of ABC Online, ABC Open with has nothing to do with the ABC. Estimates have little choice but to pay newspaper the national ABC NewsRadio and Triple by Deloitte Access Economics suggest companies and television networks to J along with digital cousins Double J there are now 200,000 people employed run their ads. Now, at minimal cost, they and triple j unearthed. Local radio is in online-related companies in Australia. can access global audiences. Meanwhile now produced at 60 sites. More than 30 Less than 1% of them work at the ABC. Australia’s newspapers and TV networks smartphone and tablet apps with around The other 99% spend the bulk of their are clinging desperately to business two million users each month further time trying to wrest advertisers away from models that are broken and blaming serve our audiences. Over that quarter of traditional media companies and move the ABC for their woes. Even if the ABC a century we’ve undoubtedly done more them into the digital space. collapsed tomorrow, that wouldn’t solve with less as staff numbers dwindled from their revenue crises. During her address to the MediaGuardian 6500 to 4000.
Page 17 The ABC review was carried out by former Channel Seven finance executive Peter Lewis. In his analysis, Lewis acknowledged that it was impossible to make a direct comparison between the Jim Middleton ABC and any commercial broadcaster. In no other newsroom will you find a veteran ABC journalist, journalist producing radio news, radio current affairs, TV news stories and online signs off for the last time commentary on the same day. The public broadcaster tells Australians stories from seven locations around the world. The commercials generally have staff in just fter interviewing every prime opportunity to interview heads of two. In the case of Lewis’s former stable, minister since Malcolm Fraser government and senior government the Seven Network, it operates in five A and rubbing shoulders with ministers across the region,” Torney locations across Australia versus the world leaders, one of the ABC’s most said. ABC’s 60. Seven CEO Tim Worner earns respected and longest serving political “Some of his best work has been some $3.5 million a year, which is four times journalists is calling it a day. of his most recent including his interview more than the ABC Managing Director Jim Middleton is leaving the corporation in Naypyidaw with the president of Mark Scott ($805,392). It’s probably not after a career spanning 44 years. Myanmar.” worth mentioning Nine Network chief David Gyngell’s quip to Scott recently that He accepted a redundancy offer that But with the Australia Network being his “tea lady” makes more money than him was brought about by budget cuts switched off later this month, Middleton (Gyngell collected $19.5 million last year which forced the ABC to shed 70 staff. decided it was time to leave and chose which was 24 times Scott’s salary). “It’s always sad to leave an organisation redundancy over redeployment. The ABC’s staff budget has sent one which has taken up such a large part Work on 2JJ a highlight of long career of your life, which I have enjoyed of the Corporation’s loudest critics into Middleton conceded it was a tough wholeheartedly having had so many a frenzy. At 46% of its costs, it sounds decision to leave behind so many of his great opportunities,” he said. excessive measured against commercial, colleagues. free-to-air equivalents at 10.7% but that For 20 years from 1988, he was ABC He said he had enjoyed “spending figure is wildly misleading. All the FTAs TV News’ chief political correspondent so much working time with so many outsource the bulk of their programming to in Canberra. the independent production sector, which terrific people” as well as the benefits He covered seven federal elections and means staff costs are embedded in the of “working for a fine institution such as three eras of government under Prime overall program price. Shine Australia, for the ABC, with the range of opportunities Ministers Howard, Hawke and Keating. example, charges Nine circa $25 million for it provides”. The Voice and a further $20 million to pay “Jim is synonymous with everything the And for Middleton, one of those the four celebrity judges. That expense is ABC stands for: independence, trust, opportunities, which he describes as a conveniently excluded from Nine’s wages fairness and integrity,” ABC director defining moment of his early career, was bill. Also missing is The Project on Channel of news Kate Torney said in a tribute his work on 2JJ. Ten, which is made by Roving Enterprises emailed to staff. “I’m particularly proud of the part I and also costs $25 million pa. It hires as As a foreign correspondent, he reported played in the transition in the 1980s of many as 67 people. Consider if you will from the frontline on some of the 2JJ into triple j,” he said. that The Drum on ABC1 is made by six biggest events of the 1980s. people for less than $1 million including As a co-ordinator, Middleton was He was present at President Ronald wages. The ABC produces more original manager at 2JJ, which was the Reagan’s first two summits with Russian content than any other network. forerunner to the nationwide triple j. leader Mikhail Gorbachev, saw Alan The results of the Lewis review will be Bond’s Australia II win the America’s Along the way of his distinguished released publicly on Monday. Instead of Cup in 1983, reported the Falklands career, Middleton also became a mentor trying to maim the competition, it would War from Argentina as well as the to young reporters entering the world of surely be better for commercial media to guerrilla conflicts in El Salvador and journalism. concentrate its efforts on emulating the Nicaragua. “Having been around for such a long international companies that are enjoying Middleton left Canberra’s press pack time, I have enjoyed the opportunity success. Buzzfeed, The Atlantic, The after the 2007 election and moved to provide any assistance I could in Guardian and the Daily Mail have all taken over to Australia Network, the ABC’s advancing young reporters’ careers,” a global view. And perhaps it’s wise to international television arm, where he he said. heed the words of Elisabeth Murdoch. “I presented Newsline and more recently fear we spend far too much time fighting Middleton is already busy with the next The World. over crumbs when we should be baking a phase of his life, looking after baby bigger cake.” “He has become a respected Maud who was born in July and is his media leader in Asia and earned the Emma Alberici is the presenter of fifth child. ABC’s Lateline. Page 18 existing commercial offerings. When an ABC manager yesterday told staff Political bastardry that those made redundant in the current down-sizing might be able to produce content on a freelance one-off program and nincompoops commissioning basis in future, the cat was out of the bag. A commissioning model for content where consign ABC to nervous managers under pressure from vested corporate and political interests can pull the plug by de-commissioning the creator, is an attack on editorial churnalism independence. Journalism requires fearless and Radio National, with its specialist programs sometimes courageous presentation of hitting 64 million downloads so far this Quentin confronting facts. It needs an editorial year, is being “reshaped”. A nincompoop Dempster culture which can withstand intimidation in senior management has been heard from sometimes more powerful forces. The SMH to comment on the need to get rid of the ABC has become one of Australia’s most 25 Nov 2014 “strangle-hold of specialisation”. trusted institutions because the public has The reorganisation of the news division been able to see it expose and call the through an “audit of skills” more relevant powerful to account. n a click-bait world, the reshaping of the to digital platforms ahead of the skills ABC’s operations to lead in the digital We are assured that culture will continue, of reporting, investigative research race will come at the expense of quality but the public is entitled to be sceptical I and analysis appears to be putting TV and radio programs and services. as the ABC’s momentum is seriously “churnalism” ahead of journalism. damaged through the Abbott government The loss of the last remaining regional “Churnalism” is reactive coverage in a budget cuts and MD Mark Scott’s content TV production centre in South Australia 24 hours news cycle. This puts online thinning. exposes the ABC’s Sydney-centrism. immediacy in a competitive news There will be far fewer opportunities The sacrifice of many live broadcasts on media industry at the be-all-and-end- to work overseas, fewer opportunities Classic FM disengages with musicians and all of the ABC’s operations rather than for original investigative journalism, to music lovers. well-produced, specialist, editorially- cover regional Australia or to tell the independent programs which reflect The loss of localism with the axing of the stories that need to be told: the farmer and engage the cultural and geographic 7.30 Friday state shows, leaves state with a leaky CSG well on his farm, the diversity of our audiences. It diminishes the politics, education, health, law, order, remote indigenous residents struggling core Charter requirement for the creation multi-party corruption and administration with an education deficit, the ratepayers of original, intelligent, audience-engaging unexamined in that more influential format. concerned about dodgy councillors, content. The reduction in local radio news bulletins the survivor of child sexual abuse, the from 10 minutes to five will leave our It follows commercial templates of digital elderly victim of a healthcare failure, the audiences with hardly anything more than content built on size of audience over community organisation struggling to fight the headlines. production cost. It merely duplicates for funding for a vital service. These are just a few of the thousands of stories that will not be told without a thriving ABC. Northern Rivers farewell Quentin, with the help of “Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy. Australians understand that what is happening is a piece of Tony Abbott/ Rupert Murdoch bastardry. The government has no mandate from the electorate to damage the ABC or SBS. But there are forces at work in this country out to destroy Australia’s unique public broadcasting system. We must not let this happen.
Quentin Dempster will present the last NSW 7.30 program on Friday 5th December. The ABC will lose a consummate journalist of the utmost integrity. What a tragedy!
Page 19 Image courtesy AAP. Quentin Dempster’s ABC rally speech
TOWN HALL SQUARE supporters in News Ltd. I thank you all for A news executive will fly around the world 22 November 2014 your moral support. to sack many of our wonderful support staff and close some foreign bureaux Media, Entertainment & Arts Putting aside rivalry, all thinking content completely. The ABC wants more foreign Alliance website creators, journalists and program makers correspondents to move to what’s called know what is at stake here. video journalism where the reporter has to On Monday executives from the human shoot, light, sound-record and video edit resources department of the ABC (if his or her own material as a cost cutting housands of ABC supporters, you were a tabloidist you’d call them ‘hit exercise. Camera crews on foreign shoots community leaders, politicians squads’) will start to administer targeted for instantaneous news, live crosses T and media personalities rallied in redundancy notices. It is at that point the and longer form current affairs are vital Sydney’s Town Hall Square yesterday real agenda and its motivations should in the editorial collaborative process and as ABC staff prepare for significant job become apparent. We will see for sure for physical safety in sometimes very losses to compensate for $254 million the ABC abandon localism on TV current dangerous situations. The quality of the in government funding cuts. Deputy affairs with the loss of the 7.30 Friday ABC’s international reporting which has Opposition leader Tanya Plibersek, shows - New South Wales, Queensland, helped make the broadcaster so distinctive Greens Senator Scott Ludlam and other Victoria, South Australia, Western and trusted is so sure to suffer. The ABC supporters addressed the assembled Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the will be more reliant on syndicated agency masses. Quentin Dempster, journalist Northern Territory. Audiences in the one material. The engagement of Australians for thirty years and staffer at the ABC for newspaper capitals will be left to endure with the world through the eyes of our twenty years delivered this address. the dogmatic simplicities of the Murdoch in situ correspondents will also suffer Press. We will see Lateline, which over 25 as those who remain will increasingly I acknowledge we stand on Aboriginal years, has held government to account be instructed to chase ambulances and land. Always was … always will be. and exposed the abuse of political and natural disasters for a bigger visual bang in Friends, corporate power and institutional child the 24 hour news cycle. Thanks for turning out for the ABC and sexual abuse, stripped of much of its field Thanks to Christopher Pyne, a panicked SBS today. Those of us who are about reporting capacity. constituent politician and disloyal to be industrially executed are buoyed by From early intelligence it appears those Cabinet minister from South Australia, for your solidarity. programs on radio which require a depth highlighting what we have long known. I thank the Media Entertainment and Arts of analysis, specialisation and preparation Through successive budget cuts and a Alliance, the Community and Public Sector in production will be targeted. Classic management resourcing priority to win Union, the Friends of the ABC, GetUp!, FM faces an uncertain future with loss of the digital race, the ABC IS Sydney- Jonathan Holmes and our professional staff and outside broadcasts in the short centric. The loss of the ABC’s Adelaide colleagues, friends and allies throughout term. Radio news bulletins will be cut from TV production house, the last remaining the Australian media industry - including 10 to five minutes, giving audiences just regional TV producer outside Sydney and commercial television and radio; the the headlines .. not much more than the Melbourne - with the loss of more than 100 now many online news, conversation headlines … less substantive coverage of jobs - is a cultural and local tragedy. and analysis websites; the print media what is really going on, particularly at the What is about to happen on Monday including Fairfax … and our closet local level. comes after the mindless vandalism to
Page 20 Australia’s engagement with Asia and to think deeply before they do further A casuist is a person, especially a Image courtesy AAP. the Pacific through the termination of the damage to the hard won reputation of SBS theologian, who attempts to resolve Australia Network contract. as an editorially independent service to a moral dilemmas by careful distinction but now polyglot Australia. ultimately false reasoning. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who I acknowledge has done some The government wants to amend the In the Australian vernacular that means: determined diplomatic work to bring SBS Act to allow SBS to increase its Bullshit. Malcolm Turnbull is a bullshit Vladimir Putin and Russia to account prime time advertising from 5 to 10 artist. over the MH17 atrocity, (Julie Bishop minutes per hour. This will further dislocate I remember him once promising never to has assisted in our efforts to liberate audience loyalty for SBS with the already tell a lie to the Australian people. journalist Peter Greste from prison in aggravating in-program advertising Let me recalibrate this .. Malcolm Turnbull Cairo. I gratefully acknowledge that). But interruptions. Audiences trying to engage is a bullshit artist … who has now Foreign Minister Bishop has exposed with Jennie Brockie’s excellent Insight, compounded Tony Abbott’s lie. the shallowness of her thinking when Dateline, their documentaries and movies she terminated the Australia Network are unnecessarily provoked each time. I appeal to members of the Liberal Party contract. She cited the ABC’s display of This destructive dynamic, for whatever of Australia and the National Party to editorial independence apparently over think carefully about the power play now its coverage of the ‘burnt hands’ case apparent in what is a Rupert Murdoch- and the ABC/Guardian exposure of the directed ideological attack on the public Australian Signals Directorate’s bugging broadcasters of this country. If you get of the mobile phones of the Indonesian into bed with Murdoch in the hope of president and his wife as a motivating tactical advantage in the adversarial influence in her decision to terminate game of politics you will sell your souls. the contract. She wanted Australia There are forces When the tide turns he will dump you Network to be a propaganda arm of at work in this in the gutter and laugh at your gullibility. the Australian Government in spite of country out to Memoirs from fallen political leaders, the already agreed objective with DFAT double-crossed business partners and to project Australia as a robust liberal destroy the ABC pubs full of sacked editors attest to democracy capable of questioning and SBS and his ruthlessness, unethical culture and domestic authority, reporting human our unique public expediency. rights abuse and political dissent The ABC was created in 1932 by the A. J. wherever it occurred. broadcasting system. Lyons Coalition government, its creation The ABC and Australia has lost 70 of our actively supported by Robert Gordon Asia Pacific News Centre international Menzies, then a Victorian MP. program makers, in situ correspondents We must not let SBS was created in 1979 by the and the chance to wire this country into this happen. Malcolm Fraser Liberal/National Coalition Asia as never before through specially- government largely because the ABC was made quality, ethical news, business, We must never then seen as deficient in providing multi- sport and entertainment programs to lingual services for millions of new comers. reach the region’s estimated 3.3billion get tired. I appeal to all political parties, including mobile phones users. Radio Australia the Murdoch-intimidated and recalcitrant has been distressingly reduced to ‘rip Australian Labor Party, to now re- and read’. write their media policies to secure a Please note that Julie Bishop terminated mainstream role for ABC and SBS as the contract at the nagging insistence of editorially and creatively independent, the Murdoch Press. I can only hope she millions it will add to revenue in the short non-commercial public broadcasters eventually realises what she has done term, can only erode taxpayer support or cybercasters through the digital through the exercise of her ministerial for SBS over time. In an age of fear and revolution. No matter how many free discretion. terror Australia needs SBS as a counter trade agreements Australia signs in a now global economy, it is vital for the I must mention what is happening at measure, delivering a sense of inclusion institutional strength of our democracy SBS. Dateline has been gutted of its through multi-lingual services to our rapidly within the sovereign state of Australia that reporting strength and reportedly is to increasing migrant population including a taxpayer funded public broadcasting be made lighter if and when it returns to this country’s 600,000 Muslims. system remains committed to audiences air next year. The noted casuist Malcolm Turnbull … as citizens in a democracy and not Dateline has been a most courageous has said the incoming prime minister’s as consumers to be delivered up to and cost effective contributor in public pre-election statement that there would advertisers. broadcasting and investigative and be no cuts to ABC or SBS has to be There are forces at work in this country taken in the context of his and Joe exposure journalism world wide. To out to destroy the ABC and SBS and our make it ‘lighter’ in an age of geopolitical Hockey’s prior warning about efficiency unique public broadcasting system. tensions, terror, corruption and at the broadcasters. Tony Abbott said inhumanity is … laughable. I appeal unequivocally and unconditionally: “no cuts We must not let this happen. to Michael Ebeid and the SBS Board to the ABC or SBS”. We must never get tired.
Page 21 Richard Gates, Ex-President, The Lewis Northern Rivers Branch Efficiency Review: Long on Commercial Ideology, Short on Public Broadcasting
Reason for the Review While it was very generous and sensitive Turnbull’s department finally relented this At the request of Minister Malcolm of the FOI officer to consider the impact week, well a little. First, the Executive Turnbull, the Department of Broadband, that the report might have on ABC and Summary appeared and then a redacted Communications and the Digital Economy SBS staff, this explanation now looks like a version of the Lewis Review with much undertook an ‘efficiency review’ of the delaying tactic to prevent embarrassment information blacked out. But there’s still ABC and SBS earlier this year. and loss of confidence in the government, enough to get the gist of what’s being and was certainly not in the interests of planned for the ABC and the government’s “The study was to examine costs for staff or the public’s ‘right to know’. view of the ABC and its future. Not a good the day to day operations that deliver ‘We don’t want the staff to know there’s look by any “metric”, one of the favourite ABC and SBS programs, products and terms of the review. services, and propose options to increase a big train coming down the track’, is efficiency.” The review was to stay away from programming matters. There is, apparently, no connection between cuts to operations and programming. You can cut the tools for production and programming will not be affected! Really? No Background in Public Broadcasting Mr Peter Lewis, from a commercial media career and with no obvious background in public broadcasting, was hired for the review. A draft report, now known as the ‘Lewis efficiency review’, was delivered to Turnbull and his department in April. It would be fair to say the report was done in a hurry. It cost taxpayers at least a quarter of a million dollars and if the current massive staff losses from the ABC and public outcry is anything to go by, it will cost us a lot more in the long run.
Refusal to Make the Review Public certainly not a reason to withhold critical Guide to the Review Despite repeated requests for the review information about their futures. Staff had By all means read the glossy Executive to be made public including a formal FOI every right to be informed particularly given Summary available on the department’s request from FABC, the report was kept the feverish media and political speculation website . But understand it doesn’t tell the from us by Turnbull’s department. Secrecy already in play at the time, and the whole story about how the conclusions for seems to be hallmark of its modus potential threat to employment which was cuts were reached. Nor does it indulge in operandi. The department told FABC in visibly worrying staff. the speculation buried away in the body of October that: In the past two months the clamor has the review which gives not-so-subtle clues “disclosure of the draft ABC and SBS grown for the Lewis review to be made about where Turnbull and the government Efficiency Study at this time has the public particularly when we learned that are planning to go if they have their way 400 ABC staff were to lose their jobs potential to create uncertainty for ABC and with Aunty. SBS staff, and the broader broadcasting and the total cost of the government’s industry, by fuelling early speculation on efficiency and other cuts with the ABC Efficiencies and savings are to be made the issues that the ABC and SBS may topped the half billion dollar mark. across five areas: focus on from a corporate strategic policy Department Bows to Public and Political 1. ABC and SBS should work together perspective”. Pressure and where possible live in the same place
Page 22 to save money. The report admits that 4. ABC and SBS should exploit be achieved! Clearly the Lewis review there are problems with this concept and commercial opportunities to earn revenue, was not just about efficiency but a Trojan that the necessary homework hasn’t been for example by making users of ABC and Horse setting up Aunty to be plundered done: SBS pay for catchup services such as by commercial interests. And Charter “Specific savings of the shared functions ABC iview. This will help defray the costs review cannot be far behind. of the increased bandwidth required to could not be identified; however, it is 5. And finally, management needs to be meet increasing user demand. Advertising reasonable to assume [emphasis mine] tightened up so that there is better match can be added in to help revenue streams that management roles could be reduced between supply and demand in service and the ABC ban against advertising can in this structure.” delivery. And this will be overseen by a be overcome under the SBS charter by new Chief Financial Officer, perhaps a Why is it reasonable “to assume” this using the same platform for delivery: conclusion? Where is the evidence? new ‘Chainsaw Dunlap’. “The legal aspects of monetizing ABC Unfortunately much of the review is built Clearly there are far too many staff who content through advertising would on this kind of qualitative analysis and are not focused on their KPIs or Key need to be explored further, but a joint conclusion. Anyone could say that. Performance Indicators. A performance platform hosted by SBS may alleviate this Where is the appropriate evidence- review system needs to be put in place restriction”(page 60). based analysis and carefully-thought-out to help them lift their games thereby conclusion and consequences? Advice on how to get around legislation reducing the need for such a large staff 2. Old technologies should be retired which was put there for a purpose, that is as those remaining will be more focused because they are inefficient and new to prevent advertising on the ABC, is not and efficient in ‘delivering product to technologies put in their place perhaps a good look from an ethical perspective, customers’. Staff employment conditions through “outsourcing arrangements” (page and begs the question ‘what else is being need to be watered down to save money. done to get around the rules’? No wonder 57). Centralisation of facilities will save Final Comments money. How will this work? Evidence? Turnbull’s department didn’t want us to see the review. Overall, the Lewis Report was rushed judging by the repeated disclaimers in many sections about the need for further study or analysis or sheer lack of supporting evidence for claims for efficiency. The repeated references to outsourcing, partnerships with the commercial sector, changes to pay and conditions for employees which clearly do them down (shades of the pay deal with the military) tell us how the Minister and his department want to play the game. The Lewis efficiency review is all about carving up the ABC, demoralizing staff and sharing Aunty’s Intellectual Property with the commercial sector. Sure, there’s advice about selling helicopters and office premises but that’s a distraction. The Lewis review is in the best of the economic rationalist traditions with little systemic thinking and appreciation of the complexities of a creative organisation What might be the outcomes? Further, maximum revenue can be which is the ABC. If implemented, it will destroy the ABC. Staff are to be 3. The ABC and SBS should be extracted if there is an increase in the treated as commodities to be done “modernised” (whatever that means) and amount of advertising during prime down and efficiencies are all about integrated with the wider [read commercial) demand time. It is the case that SBS is bringing Aunty to the same size as an broadcasting and production sectors in only allowed five minutes of advertising “keeping with contemporary business per hour but according to the report the advertising commercial sector where practice” (unspecified)! This will save restriction can be overcome by not using profit is first and not the public interest. money as the ABC can outsource much the five minute periods in low activity time Virtually no attention is given to the fact of its activity to the private sector which slots and then they can be combined for that Aunty is a public broadcaster with a is awash with capacity for production prime viewing to maximise advertising very different raison d’etre. The review and other functions. It “may be more revenue. Of course the advertisers will be is an ideologically-driven, race-to-the- economical…..” to do so. Sounds like a charged a premium for these prime slots. bottom, second rate piece of work which leg up for commercial interests but there is What this all has to do with efficiency is doesn’t stand close scrutiny. No wonder no evidence presented to show how it will unclear. But it is certainly moving the ABC Turnbull’s department didn’t want to be more economical and benefit the ABC to a user-pays model under the guise of release it. We must all protest loudly and and public broadcasting. efficiency. So this is how efficiency is to the Minister must be held to account.
Page 23 State and Regional Branches
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