In his first major speech about the ABC since the May federal election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has indicated a new era in government-ABC relations. Delivered at a gala dinner celebrating the national broadcaster’s 90th anniversary, the PM’s wide-ranging speech outlined the ABC’s crucial role in contributing to both social cohesion and a healthy democracy. He also reinforced his government’s commitment to a better-resourced, independent ABC and promised to review options for delivering greater financial sustainability to safeguard against political interference.

Dr Michael Ward of the University of Sydney, a former senior ABC executive, has been poring over the figures.

In this disturbing article for ABC Alumni, he confirms what we’ve all suspected.  First release, non-news and current affairs screen content on the ABC’s main TV channel has dropped by 40% in ten years, and on all ABC platforms by around 20%.

If you’re looking for evidence that the ABC desperately needs its funding restored, THIS IS IT!

One of the ABC's primary responsibilities has long been telling Australian stories to Australian audiences.  

But rising costs and increasing competition from the giant streaming companies are making it harder and harder for the ABC to air home-grown, high-quality drama.

ABC Alumni Board Member, former ABC Director of Television and award-winning independent drama producer SANDRA LEVY outlines the size of the challenge:

On Tuesday September 26^th Chris Oliver-Taylor - since July 1^st the ABC’s Chief Content Officer - was our guest at an exclusive webinar hosted by Gael Jennings. 

Chris has a huge job.  He’s responsible for all ABC content that is not produced by the News Division. As Gael put it: “that’s all commissioning, in-house production, drama, entertainment, arts, science, children’s, factual, the national radio networks, Radio National, all the metro radio stations, ABC Listen, ABC iview, and all of this is in the context of moving towards an ABC digital future.” 

Chris is a lively and engaging speaker, and he didn’t duck the questions. To get the flavour of these webinars, you need to be there (and be an Alumni subscriber). But here’s a summary of the ground he and Gael covered in a fascinating hour.

By Peter Lewis, 9 February 2023

Rural and regional broadcasting has been a mainstay of ABC programming for nearly eight decades. It’s provided a unique on-the-ground insight into the lives and businesses of Australians outside of the capital cities, and both Landlineand The Country Hour remain favourite programs in the rural regions and among many in the cities too. Pete Lewis came to rural reporting late, after many years in news and current affairs but, as he writes here, it was his time on Landline – which returns to ABC TV this Sunday – that brought to him ‘the beating heart’ of the ABC.

Last week, the ACT’s Director of Public Prosecutions announced that there would be no retrial of Bruce Lehrmann, because it would pose a “significant and unacceptable risk to the life of the complainant”, Brittany Higgins.

It’s a classic example of the dilemma that confronts our courts in the trial of alleged sexual offenders. The accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence, until proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt. He or she is also entitled to decline to give evidence – the “right to silence”. However, to plant a reasonable doubt in the minds of a jury, defence counsel will inevitably attempt to discredit the evidence of the complainant, who is usually the only other witness to the alleged offence. The result is too often a gruelling cross-examination that can retraumatise already vulnerable people, whether or not they avail themselves of the right to remain anonymous.

That is the issue with which Louise Milligan grapples in her 2020 book, Witness. It was the issue about which she was invited to speak to the Women Lawyers Association of the ACT at their gala dinner on 21 October this year. It is a matter of obvious public interest. But Milligan has now found herself under attack, not only in The Australian and on Sky News, but in the Commonwealth parliament, for things she did not say and does not believe.

This is News Corporation’s version of “cancel culture”, argues Jonathan Holmes – a phenomenon it has so often condemned.

Can the ABC improve its complaints handling system? And what are the main challenges facing the new Ombudsman, Fiona Cameron, as she settles into her new job at the public broadcaster? ABC Alumni director Alan Sunderland – who has more experience than most in this area – gives his insights into what lies ahead. 

Ann Chesterman warns that without adequate ABC funding, this extraordinary service to Australian music is at risk.

With global video streamers capturing more and more Australian eyeballs from the wi fi modems linked to their smart TVs, the ABC has emerged as perhaps a last chance saloon for original local drama, documentary and entertainment programs.

By Quentin Dempster 9 December 2021

A new report from Deloitte Access Economics shows that the ABC’s commitment to local drama, documentary and entertainment boosts the Australian economy by hundreds of millions of dollars and has far-reaching benefits for the independent film industry and beyond, supporting thousands of jobs across many sectors and locations throughout the country. Quentin Dempster has been analysing the report.