Agreed, I do appreciate your posts and looking at real facts and numbers too. You would make a good advisor. Thank you.
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The freeze refers to the increase that has traditionally happened on a yearly basis (over three years as part the funding agreement) - what youâve described is effectively a reduction
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ABCâs commitment to emergency broadcasting
Correcting the Record: Contrary to some reports, there are no plans to change how the ABC covers emergency events.
The ABCâs vital role in emergency broadcasting has never been more clear. Nothing in this weekâs change proposals would jeopardise that.
We will always prioritise the delivery of emergency broadcasting services as the community expects of us.
There are absolutely no plans to change the way in which we cover emergency events. In fact, we are proposing to improve the service with closer ties between our emergency broadcast team and our local and regional teams. This would ensure our local teams have greater control over this coverage and be more responsive during emergencies such as bushfires and extreme weather events.
Contrary to some reports, we would continue to have national coordination in our management of emergency broadcasting.
The ABC is in consultation with its employees and does not comment on individual positions.
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⌠but you also have to take into account that the BBC has over eight-and-a-half times the staff and produces considerably more content than the ABC, so the ratio of staff to dollars to hours produced means that the ABC is over-paying itself by a wide margin âŚ
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Thatâs overstating it a bit. 4,600 versus 22,500 = about 4.8 times the staff. I would hazard a guess that the BBCâs official employee numbers being much higher is because they have a larger number of programs and content produced internally, whereas the ABC outsources almost all of its non-news production to outside companies, whose staff numbers do not turn up on the ABCâs list of employees.
They produce considerably more content because they have a budget 7 times higher.
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The BBC also produces total commercial trash like Strictly Come Dancing. Itâs a totally system and market.
Yeah I always thought how BBC has that. It would have been suited for ITV to be honest.
So whats the likelyhood of Q&A being shafted or still remaining in hte 9.30 slot? I mean judging by the statement sounds like no new content is going to be on 9.30.
âThe total number of staff is 35,402 when part-time, flexible, and fixed-contract staff are included.â
The Australian today reveals more key points of the job cuts at the ABC. The position of chief economics reporter (currently held by Emma Alberici), national arts, culture and entertainment reporter (currently Michaela Boland) and freedom of information editor will be abolished. Foreign Correspondent will lose two episodes and be broadcast 22 times a year, while Australian Story will lose four stories a year.
David Speers will speak to Communications Minister Paul Fletcher on Insiders this Sunday. It will be an interesting interview.
The government will sure to like that.
A statement from ABC Chair Ita Buttrose.
What would Australia look like without the ABC?
The ABC has not only helped shape Australia, we are the national voice that unites us.
Itâs about democracy. Without the ABC we would have a balkanised and parochial bunch of broadcasters that are in danger of being compromised by profit and more intent on dividing than unifying.
Imagine what it would be like during the bushfire season if we had to rely only on state-based or even regionally based media outlets. When we are in the middle of bushfires, donât we want to know that they are being covered by a knowledgeable and experienced network of journalists with all the supporting infrastructure of a large national network?
The ABC, funded by all of us, regardless of our creed â race, age, political beliefs â is us. Itâs the way we build cross-cultural understanding, the way we help each other in times of need. Itâs who we are collectively. Why would anyone want to diminish that and make us less than who we are?
This has been a devastating week for the ABC. With unemployment at an all-time high to have to inform up to 250 people they no longer had a job has been an incredibly difficult task.
Cuts to services caused by the ongoing reduction in our budget forced this action upon us and although we knew what had to be done, our hearts were with our employees.
Let me clarify the cuts because there seems to be some confusion in Government circles about them. The 2018 Budget papers clearly state that the Governmentâs savings measures reduce funding to the ABC by $14.623 million in 2019-20, $27.842 million in 2020-21, and $41.284 million in 2021-22. This reduction totals $83.75 million on our operational base.
It is true that over the three years the ABC budget does still increase but by a reduced amount, due to indexation on the fixed cost of transmission and distribution services. Previously, it was rising by a further $83.75 million over the same three years for indexation on our operational base. This is the funding that has been cut and considered a saving by the government.
These funding cuts are unsustainable if we are to provide the media services that Australians expect of us. Indexation must be renewed.
The strength of the ABC and its relationship with the nation comes from the very people who work for us. They are passionate about public broadcasting and are prepared to work for less than they would be paid by commercial media to deliver it. The creativity in the programs they produce, the dogged and independent journalism they pursue and the connection with communities everywhere they provide through conversations is at the very heart of what the ABC delivers to our audiences.
The ABC has a statutory requirement to operate as efficiently as possible. We have a strong track record in identifying savings and reinvesting them in services. This is how we created ABC News 24, ABC iview and a range of packages to boost services in rural and regional Australia.
There is no other authority better placed to manage the ABC than the ABC itself. We know our business and we are determined to honour our commitment to independence. All Australians expect this of us just as they expect the Government to provide the appropriate funds to allow us to do so.
The ABC is essential in generating and preserving Australiaâs democratic culture. An independent, well-funded national broadcaster allows Australians, wherever they live, to connect. It is how we share our identity, how we tell our stories, how we listen to each other, how we ask for help and how we give it.
Ita Buttrose AC OBE
ABC Chair
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The Foxtel situation is an odd one. In almost every other developed country, the satellite TV provider is mandated to carry the free to air broadcaster and be forced to PAY the broadcaster, whereas here it seems to be the opposite. Very weird.
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Hereâs the transcript of tonightâs Media Watch.
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I think Labor needs to go further and vow to restore the entire amount of funding cut by the Coalition, going back to 1996 when John Howard won the federal election.
A nice idea but I canât see even Labor committing to that
ABC launches Your Mental Health to help Australians during COVID-19
The ABC has launched an initiative to raise awareness and support for the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians, to help those struggling with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, bushfires and drought.
From 5-11 July, ABC Your Mental Health, in partnership with Lifeline and Kids Helpline, will support thousands of Australians struggling with issues such as anxiety, depression and stress during these challenging times.
With many people feeling their mental health has worsened this year*, the ABC will deliver trusted content across its television, radio and digital services, such as ABC iview and listen, to show all Australians that small changes can make a big difference to their wellbeing, including:
Mental health monologues by prominent Australians â including Hamish Blake, Steph Tisdell and Benjamin Law â for ABC iview, ABC social media and The Drum.
ABC Local Radioâs happiness exercises, comedy festival highlights, âjoy dropsâ and âYour Good Vibrationsâ listener polls of the songs that make them happy.
Wellbeing and mood music on Double J, triple j Unearthed and ABC Classic.
- Interviews and tips on ABC social media channels, including Sammy Jâs happiness exercises and Cuppa with Kumi and ABC Health features on Instagram.
- Specialist RN content, including fitness challenges on Life Matters and Sporty.
- Landline reports on âcare farmsâ and equine therapy in regional areas.
- ABC Science digital explores young peopleâs mental health, while Compass looks at an initiative to combat intergenerational issues, including mental illness.
- Information and analysis across ABC News digital and broadcast, including News Breakfast and 7pm bulletins.
- ABC Artsâ No Time For Quiet documentary about girls following their passion for making music.
- iviewâs Your Mental Health collection includes Man Up and The Agony of the Mind.
ABC Managing Director David Anderson said the national broadcaster was committed to doing all it can to help Australians be healthy and well, inside and out. âWith so many people saying their mental health has worsened of late, they are looking to the ABC to help them through these unsettling times,â he said.
âEven as restrictions ease, the psychological aftershocks of coronavirus will linger for months to come. ABC Your Mental Health, in partnership with Lifeline and Kids Helpline, will raise awareness about issues affecting all Australians and drive a national conversation about how they can look after themselves and each other.â
John Brogden, Lifeline Australia Chairman, said: âThe ABCâs emphasis on the importance of connection will help save lives. We can never underestimate the power we have to connect with another person and the positive difference that can make. I congratulate the ABC for encouraging Australians to maintain their wellbeing and continue to reach out to those around us.â
Craig Scarr, National Marketing Manager of yourtown (which provides Kids Helpline), said: âKids Helpline has been hit with rising demand for counselling services during the coronavirus pandemic, with children and young people contacting the service with issues around mental health, emotional wellbeing and physical health concerns.
âBeing involved in Your Mental Health with the ABC will enhance awareness about these issues by providing resources to help children and young people manage the psychological effects of the pandemic and a looming recession.â
For more ABC Your Mental Health content, visit abc.net.au from 5 July.
If you need support, please call:
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
*The ABS Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey, released in May 2020, found that loneliness was the most widely reported source of personal stress for Australians during April, affecting more women (28%) than men (16%).
*A study by the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, released in May 2020, found a substantial increase in levels of psychological distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among young Australian adults aged 18 to 34.
Last I checked, John Howard won his first Federal Election in 1996.
I agree with TVAU: Although itâd be great if the ABCâs funding was restored to pre-1996 levels, itâs unlikely that Labor would commit to that. Pre-2014 levels maybe a bit more realistic.
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Or just fund it properly going forward would be good
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ABC Statement on Enforceable Undertaking
A recent investigation conducted by the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman ( FWO ) determined that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( ABC ) had contravened the Fair Work Act 2009 by contravening the ABC Enterprise Agreement 2016-2019 , ABC Enterprise Agreement 2013-2016 and the ABC Enterprise Agreement 2010 (the ABC EAs ) by underpaying casual staff.
The underpayments as a result of the ABCâs practice of paying casual employees flat rates of pay designed to offset penalty rates and overtime provided for by the ABC EAs. However, some flat pay rates were insufficient and resulted in some casual employees being paid less than they were entitled to.
The ABC sincerely apologises for non-compliance with Commonwealth Workplace relations laws.
The ABC is taking steps to remedy the contraventions, including rectification of the underpayment to the affected staff which has already taken place.
The ABC has formally admitted to the FWO that the ABC did not comply with its obligations under Commonwealth workplace laws and has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with the FWO, a copy of which will be available from the FWO website at www.fairwork.gov.au. As part of the Enforceable Undertaking, we have committed to a number of measures to ensure future compliance with Commonwealth workplace relations laws, including:
- Provisioning an independent audit to identify past and current impacted staff, with the audit methodology subject to independent review;
- Ongoing monthly engagement with the FWO regarding the progress of the audit;
- Rectification of all underpayments to past and current employees, and the provision of reimbursement of costs associated with seeking independent financial advice for employees owed $15,000 and above;
- Implementation of an electronic record keeping system to accurately record rosters and actual time worked for all staff;
- Ensuring that all future offers of employment will include an anticipated classification level, schedule, band, pay point, and an hourly rate or salary range, as applicable;
- Provision of training to responsible individuals regarding the rights and responsibilities of employers under relevant Commonwealth workplace laws and instruments; and
- Provisioning annual audits conducted by an independent expert to confirm ongoing compliance with Commonwealth workplace