The ABC Friends NSW/ACT Strategic Plan 2024-26 outlines the planned direction forward for the NSW/ACT Friends, so that it can best support and advocate for the ABC. You can see the full Plan here. This article summarises some of the highlights.
Download the plan here
3.4MB PDF
The Strategic Plan focusses on five core objectives:
SP01 – Increase campaign momentumSP02 – Increase membership numbers and diversitySP03 – Develop a social media communication strategySP04 – Support and connect our branch networkSP05 – Increase our political engagement strategy |
Some of the critical issues outlined in the Plan include:
- Call for the reinstatement of adequate Commonwealth Government funding to ensure stability and sustainability into the future. This is essential for the ABC to maintain broadcasting quality and comply with the ABC Charter.
- Ensure the ABC Board and ABC Executive adhere to top-tier governance and leadership standards.
- Use the ABC Friends’ powerful, collective voice to defend the ABC from political interference.
- Defend the ABC and individual ABC staff from unfair criticism by members of the hostile press.
Strategic Plan SP01, about increasing campaign momentum, includes the following:
Since 2013 successive coalition governments cut the ABC’s funding by more than $526 million resulting in more than 640 job losses and the termination of state-based current affairs. Significant reductions have also been made in original drama, science, arts, sports coverage, the closure of international bureaus and outsourcing of specialist program-making reducing profit from overseas sales and loss of copyright e.g. Bluey.
Strategic Plan SP05, discussing how to increase our political engagement strategy, includes the following:
Increase our political engagement strategy to broaden our political and executive support base and secure connections to people with power.
At the heart of our 2024-2026 activism are two key messages:
1. The importance of the ABC as national public broadcaster as a foundation of our democracy
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“The ABC is an investment in Australia’s future because a revitalised ABC will be a source of great national strength.”
Kim Williams 2024
To leverage our impact, we will coordinate events with like-minded organisations and content experts, e.g. ABC Alumni, to collectively and rigorously positioning the ABC as the most trusted public media organisation in Australia.
We will continue also to position the ABC as a key contributor to the Strengthening Australian Democracy initiative, launched by the Minister for Home Affairs in 2024 and National Cultural Policy: Revive launched by the Minister for the Arts in 2023.
Future editions of the Bulletin will include updates and articles commenting on and monitoring progress with the Strategic Plan.
Rory Sutton
Editor NSW & ACT Bulletin