Election 2010 – Issues re future of the ABC

* Has Coalition’s attitude to ABC changed? Is it still hostile?

When Coalition came to office last time after Labor (Howard in ’96) it immediately announced major cuts to ABC. (Laura Tingle/Fairfax later exposed Coalition’s intention to control ABC had been planned pre-election; while it promised publicly on election eve to maintain ABC funding.)
Its hostility/intimidation also acted out with constant attacks on ABC’s integrity/allegations of bias.

* Stacking the ABC Board

Bill still sitting in Parliament for new appointment process for ABC Board and restoration of staff director.
Merit-based appointment process that puts pressure on govts not to stack board of independent national b’caster important.
Staff director important safeguard when govts do stack Board, and ensures at least one appointee with public broadcasting experience.
Coalition support for Bill only reluctant and with amendments eg. staff director not restored; Bill’s prohibition of former politicians to become restriction from appointment for only 18 months after leaving office. (Coalition did not accept FABC proposal that former politicians be eligible for appointment only if they make Nomination Panel’s short-list of recommended candidates.)
What will Coalition do in practice when it appoints ABC Board members?
New process in Bill only places greater pressure on govt to appoint on merit.
With last Coalition Govt, Board ended up comprised of people who lacked independence or merit, and often both – entirely people commonly perceived to be Coalition supporters (including cultural warriors Windschuttle. Albrechtsen, Brunton), and no-one on board with broadcasting experience.

* Funding

– With exception of increased funding for local drama (which is effectively for private production sector), ALP Govt gave extra funding only for some new initiatives; i.e., not to rebuild ABC that has declined under govts of both major political persuasions.
– What will Coalition do? When last in office it directed where ABC funding would be spent, i.e., govt interference in ABC.
– Will privatisation of ABC TV thru the backdoor continue? (Coalition tied funding to outsourcing of non ncaff tv content. All local drama now outsourced.)

* Ads on ABC/Commercialisation

Not heard Christopher Pyne (previously head of Coalition’s Communications C’tte) renounce his publicly stated position that ABC Act shd be changed so ABC carries ads and introduces a subscription service to raise funds.

* Australia Network

Will it remain with ABC or will Sky get it? (Howard Govt put it out to tender as result of Sky pressure, and tender up for renewal next year.)

* ABC 24 (new TV News Channel)

Will ABC get support it needs for a quality news channel – funds, transmission; or will it be like earlier ABC attempt at kids channel that it had to close due to insufficient funds?
* Cutting the ABC’s Role / Changing its Charter

Due to unlikelihood that Coalition will get numbers in Senate, this possibly not on its agenda this time around. (It commenced last time with its Mansfield Review.)

Earlier on Tasmanian Times: The Secret ABC