p>This newsletter includes my statement about the unfair dismissal case brought by Antoinette Lattouf against the ABC. It’s a case that has dominated public attention and caused reputational damage to the ABC.
The case is reaching its conclusion just as we head towards a federal election. An election in which we as ABC friends will again advocate in support of a fearless, independent and properly funded public broadcaster.
The stakes for the ABC in this election are as high as they've ever been. It remains underfunded. It's not able to give us the breadth and depth of international news we need because it does not have enough funds to staff many overseas bureaus. Its capacity to produce original Australian content has been reduced by 40% since 2014.
Yet it’s the only network that offers home-grown Aussie kids' programs. It’s the only network dedicated to serving communities across Australia, and it’s the only network that protects us in times of crisis.
As friends of the ABC we are always willing to call out the ABC when necessary. We will always demand courage in the face of external pressures and fair treatment for all staff. We support transparency and we believe that the ABC should follow best practice in its management and governance.
Right now our challenge is to call the political parties to account. To demand that they tell us their intentions for the ABC if they win office and to insist that the ABC’s funding and independence are protected.
I hope you will support our campaign.
ABC vital for democracy, Margaret Simons tells ABC Friends
Margaret Simons delivered a compelling address to ABC Friends and Parliamentary Friends in Canberra on 5 February.
It was a powerful case for the importance of public service media in an era of complex challenges and shifting media landscapes.
ABC Arts still at risk
The arts are our intellectual and cultural lifeblood,” says Anne Maria Nicholson, former ABC National Arts Reporter. Yet funding is at an all time low, threatening the future of Australia’s cultural landscape.
The ABC vs Antoinette Lattouf
External organisations, politicians and powerful individuals will always seek to influence the ABC. The lobbying effort to remove Lattouf from her position is the most recent public example of attempted interference, but it's not the only one.
Trust is the ABC’s currency and once broken it is hard to regain, says Cassandra Parkinson in her comment on the case.
News Corp’s latest hit job on the ABC
Is News Corp a reputable news outlet or a political campaigner? Given the quality of its latest propaganda the second is looking more likely.
Kim Williams calls their latest claims 'inaccurate, unbalanced and agenda-driven'. Michael Ward from ABC Alumni agrees.
It looks very much like the start of another campaign to undermine the ABC in the lead-up to the federal election.
We join forces with ABC Parliamentary Friends in Canberra
More than 70 ABC Friends and members of Parliament gathered to hear Chair of the ABC, Kim Williams AM, award-winning freelance journalist and author, Dr Margaret Simons, and ABC presenter Tony Jones, discuss the role of public broadcasting and how we can guarantee its future.
Updates from around the country
Electorate profiles
Drop in ABC Kids content harmful for future generations
ABC Kids claims to be “home to trusted and loved preschool programs,” where kids can “learn, play and explore”. But following years of funding cuts, the ABC is struggling to deliver on this promise.
We invite you to become more involved with ABC Friends, by joining your state group here.
Thank you for all your support.
Warm regards
Cassandra Parkinson
National President
ABC Friends
P.S. If you can, please consider making a donation to support our campaign.