President's Report
In this special Election Issue
of Update we have provided
you with information to enable
you to assess the policies of
each of the parties relating to
the ABC. Friends of the ABC
has never been a supporter of
one or other of the mainstream
parties (both Labor and Liberal
governments have been responsible
for the steady erosion of
funding for the ABC since
1986), after 11 years of the
Howard government, their attitude
on key issues is fairly clear.
They have abolished the position of staff-elected director, they have blatantly stacked the board with very vocal opponents of the ABC and of publicly-funded broadcasting, they have denied the ABC the necessary funding to convert to digital broadcasting, they have failed to provide guarantees that they would not allow commercials on the ABC, and through such vocal critics as Senators Alston, Santoro and Fierravanti-Wells, have constantly attacked the ABC with allegations of bias. This Update sets out the policies of each of the major parties on these issues, but also provides a strong reminder of the importance of your Senate vote in the forthcoming election. Legislation favourable to the ABC which is passed in the Lower House may still be blocked in a hostile Senate.
Reports on the work of our branches features prominently again in this Update. Many of our Branches hold “Meet the Candidate” public meetings, where there is opportunity for each candidate to present their party’s policies on the ABC – I recently attended an excellent forum held by Eastern Suburbs Branch in the seat of Wentworth. Sadly, the sitting member and Minister for the Environment, Malcolm Turnbull, was conspicuous by his absence! I am grateful to Jill Greenwell, President of ACT Branch, and the very active membership for the great work they have been doing in the marginal NSW seat of Eden- Monaro. Jill reports on their campaign in this issue.
I am particularly pleased to announce that the recipient of the Annual Friends of the ABC Award for Excellence in Broadcasting will be Robyn Williams, producer and presenter of Radio National’s Science Show since its launch in 1975. I am no scientist, but have been a regular listener to the Science Show over the years, and have found it a constant source of fascinating information and delightful entertainment. Robyn has de-mystified science for many of us through his often irreverent, tongue-incheek approach to science, but Robyn also exemplifies the integrity, professionalism and resourcefulness that we have come to expect from ABC staff.
His capacity to maintain outstanding quality on a risible budget is legendary. Robyn will be joining us at the Christmas party on 7th December to receive his award.
Distinguished
journalist John
Highfield was our
guest speaker at
the NSW Friends
of the ABC
Annual General
Meeting on 6th October.
Recently retired, John spoke
with passion of his long career
in radio and television journalism,
mainly with the ABC, and
of the changes to presenting
and reporting over 40 years. He
expressed great concerns
regarding the capacity of journalists
to bring us the truth in
the current political climate,
including a chilling anecdote of
the recent treatment of a journalist
by the
Australian Federal
Police under our
extraordinary
anti-terror legislation,
more redolent
of Soviet
Russia or present-day China.
The AGM also elected a new
committee to steer NSW FABC
into 2008. I wish to record my
appreciation of those who have
agreed to serve on the committee
for the next twelve months,
but particularly James
Buchanan (Secretary /Treasurer)
and Chris Cartledge
(Membership Secretary), both
of whom provide a great service
to the membership and
tremendous support to me as
president.
Finally, it is with great sadness that we have just heard of the death of Peter Andren, independent member for the seat of Calare in the Federal Parliament and a passionate supporter of the ABC, particularly in its services to rural and regional Australia. Kevin Rudd expressed it perfectly: ‘He brought a rare dignity, honesty and integrity to Australian politics. In the nation’s parliament he made a principled and thoughtful contribution to debates, speaking on subjects as diverse as refugees, Iraq, renewable energy and telecommunications.’ He will be sorely missed.
Mal Hewitt
President FABC (NSW)
Last updated 2 April, 2008
