July 2014 Vol 22, No. 2 thrice yearly newsletter Update Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc. by Abbott Blatant to ABC Board Political Selection Panel From the President Appointments Continued page 2 evin Rudd as Prime Minister was determined to put an end to the Kappointment to the ABC and SBS boards of “cultural warriors,” political mates and cronies, a practice which had scaled new heights under the Howard government. He introduced a merit-based system where board positions would be advertised publicly, and an independent nomination panel of four would present a shortlist of three names to the communications minister. The recent announcement by the government that the two vacancies on the nomination panel would be filled Inside Update From the President 2 BREAKING NEWS - 80 jobs to go! 3 Try out our improved website membership facility 4 We Must Never Get Tired 5 Malcolm Turnbull launches Parliamentary Friends group to defend ABC 6 Stand by to defend ‘your’ ABC 7 The Emasculation Agenda for the ABC 10 Mal Hewitt OAM 12 Notice of Annual General Meeting 14 Another ABC Serendipity 15 Branch News 16 Page 1 Update Publication Information From the President 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 Blatant Political said: “You have to assume that Dr. Watt chose Neil Brown and Janet To become a member phone Appointments (02) 9990 0600 or email to Albrechtsen in his own discretion - Continued from Page 1. [email protected] that’s what the legislation is supposed or access our website to do.” www.fabcnsw.org.au. by Janet Albrechtsen and Neil Brown Pigs might fly! Extracts from newspapers and other is astounding in its blatantly political publications appearing in Update do not nature, and a declaration of war on the SILENCING AUSTRALIA’S necessarily reflect the views of the ABC’s independence. members of FABC. VOICE INTO ASIA Update is distributed to all members of Albrechtsen, a columnist with The A friend of mine has been working FABC, as part of the membership fee. Australian, has frequently attacked the for many years in Taiwan, as a teacher Update is also supplied to journalists, ABC for allegedly left-wing bias, calling politicians and libraries across Australia. at the Taipei American School (2,200 It is edited and produced in Sydney but it a “Soviet-style workers collective,” K-12 students), originally established contributions are welcome from NSW country and last year called for the resignation to educate American Defence Forces and interstate branches. of managing director Mark Scott Material may be quoted or reproduced children but now attended mainly by from Update provided the source is over the ABC coverage of Australian local Taiwanese. In Australia recently acknowledged and reproduction is sent to intelligence operations in Indonesia. on holidays, he expressed disbelief at the President FABC. There is also a clear conflict of interest the government’s decision to close the Would you like to receive Update as she will, no doubt, continue in the Australia Network, and the impact it magazine electronically? employ of Rupert Murdoch, whose would have in his part of the world. Save the planet's trees and The Friends printing and postage costs and read Update various news outlets continue their “Not only do all Australians depend magazine on your computer. relentless campaign against the on Australia Network for news and Each quarter, when Update is published, you very existence of a publicly funded information, but all of my American will receive an email with a link to the latest and Taiwanese friends and colleagues issue (each magazine is around 0.5MB). broadcaster. Her obvious distaste for You can try this now by going to our the ABC does not, however, inhibit regard it as superior to any local website at www.fabcnsw.org.au and her regular appearances on several or international alternatives. For clicking on Update. ABC programs, such as Q and A and Australians it is a link with home as If you prefer this delivery option for future Updates please send an email to the Insiders. well as a trusted source of news. We Membership Secretary. cannot believe it is being shut down.” Brown, who was deputy leader of the Who to write… Liberal Party under John Howard in the Michael Lynch is an Australian Anyone seeking basic information about 1980s, maintains that the ABC suffers with extensive experience in Arts writing to persons of influence might find it administration – formerly head of the helpful to go to the FABC NSW website an “endemic lack of objectivity and www.fabc.org.au where there are some balance.” In February he wrote in The Australia Council, Director of Sydney menu items under "Be Active" leading to Spectator: “The only solution of any Opera House, a Director of the ABC, pages of information: Who can I write to? CEO of the Southbank Centre in What can I say? practical value today is one that should have already been adopted: London, and now CEO of the West FABC (NSW) Executive Committee sell it.” Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Office Bearers Hong Kong. Lynch has labelled the President - Mal Hewitt Under the Rudd legislation, the decision to close Australia Network Phone: 02 4751 6227 secretary of the Department of Email: [email protected] as “the stupidest decision ever made Prime Minister and Cabinet appoints Secretary & Treasurer - James Buchanan by an Australian government in its Phone: 02 9371 5621 the panel to nominate ABC board relations with Asia.” He spoke of the Email: [email protected] members, and the department insists value of the Network as a vehicle for Membership Secretary - Angela Williamson that secretary Ian Watt selected “soft diplomacy,” but highlighted Phone: 02 4883 4048 Albrechtsen and Brown. However, the recent and ground-breaking Email: [email protected] these positions have been vacant since decision by the Chinese Government Update Editor - Mal Hewitt to allow the Australia Network to PO Box 1391 N. Sydney NSW 2059 March – why has it taken so long to Email: [email protected] fill them? Meredith Edwards, former broadcast into mainland China (access which Rupert Murdoch has been Cartoonist - Phil Somerville deputy secretary of the Department, is consistently been denied.) “ This was Editorial Cartoonist for The Sun Herald incredulous – “It looks too political for (Sydney) an enormous achievement for the ABC [email protected] the public service to put these names and for Australia – to throw away the forward.” Layout Artist - Paul Martens opportunity is remarkable stupidity.” [email protected] Communications Minister Malcolm However, it must be said that it is Membership Line: 02 9990 0600 Turnbull, who was apparently perhaps not that surprising for a not consulted about the decision, government that seems totally “at sea” Page 2 in understanding how to maintain biennial conference, which will be and strengthen good relations with held at the Mountain Heritage Hotel, our regional neighbours. Katoomba, on 16th and 17th August. The other serious impact of removal Delegates from branches across NSW of funding from Australia Network will gather for a crucial conference, BREAKING has been the implications for the as we consider the stark reality of the ABC’s other outreach into Asia threats to the ABC’s independence NEWS... and the Pacific, Radio Australia. In and funding as already enacted by managing scarce funds and resources, the government, as well as the threats 80 jobs to go! the ABC has been sharing resources, of further action, such as part or total privatisation. The conference will correspondents, facilities and s Update goes to print, be addressed by Managing Director material across the two networks. the announcement has Mark Scott and veteran journalist Removal of Australia Network been made that 80 jobs and presenter Quentin Dempster. We funding has raised doubts about the are to go from Radio ability of Radio Australia to maintain trust that those who attend will take A Australia, Australia Network and its services. Our government clearly back to their branches and members the Asia Pacific News Centre, a neither understands nor values the enhanced skills and knowledge to consequence of the first round of importance of Australia’s voice in equip them for the battles that lie cuts to the ABC, with the prospect Asia and the Pacific. ahead. of a further $50m as a result of Lewis Review recommendations. IMPROVED WEBSITE FACILITY THE LEWIS EFFICIENCY This from a Prime Minister REVIEW Webmaster Chris Cartledge, with who promised “No cuts to the Every new conservative government his support team of Membership ABC!” Mitch Fifield, Government seems to feel the necessity to Secretary Angela Williamson and Communications Spokesman in the initiate an inquiry into the Secretary James Buchanan, has spent Senate has produced the following ABC, hoping to find a grossly many hours improving our website gems: “A review is necessary mismanaged organization. The so that members may use the facility because public broadcasters Howard government engaged KPMG with ease and security. You can join are not accountable for what to conduct an audit of the ABC. or renew your membership, update they spend the way commercial The report was never published, your membership details, or make a networks are…….The efficiency because, far from revealing gross donation, with payments going direct review will assist the ABC to identify mismanagement, it showed a lean from your credit card to the FABC inefficiency in administration so and efficient broadcaster, doing a NSW bank account. Chris is always savings can be made without remarkable job with limited funds.