ABC Friends SA/NT members continue to be actively engaging with the community and political leaders to raise awareness of ABC Friends and of course the ABC.

Images: Top Left: Hon. Mark Butler MP with ABC Friends SA/NT President and Vice President, Daryl Regan and Peter Vandeleur. Bottom Left: Premier of SA, Peter Malinauskas addresses the morning tea. Right: Daryl Regan with Senator Penny Wong.

The community engagements have included presentations to the University of the Third Age Inner North branch, the Tea Tree Gully Library writers’ group and accepting invitations from a local Greens party organisation and from the University of Adelaide.

At all presentations the audience has not been aware that significant cuts to the ABC Budget were made from 2014 to 2022, and the impact funding reductions have had on the ability for ABC to deliver quality content. The presentations have been well received and support for the ABC has been positive.

A highlight engagement was a morning tea at the South Australian Parliament house hosted by the premier Peter Malinauskas which 50 ABC Friends and politicians attended.

The premier spoke very supportively about the importance of the ABC, and its role in maintaining Australian democracy. He also reminded everyone present of the role that the South Australian parliament played in the development of the Australian democracy including adult male suffrage, the secret ballot in 1856 and in 1896 the right for women to vote in a general election.

He also reminded us of the SA government investment of $5.2 million production partnership between the SA Film Corporation and the ABC.

ABC members have now engaged with 7 of the 10 SA Federal electorates in SA. Funding of the ABC is our key discussion point with politicians - reminding them that without adequate funding it is impossible for the ABC to fully deliver its obligations under the 1983 Charter.

ABC Friends SA/NT President and Vice President were invited to a celebration of 150 years of the University of Adelaide with whom we have been working to try to identify ways we might engage with students and alumni to grow our membership and supporter base.

The ABC received an excellent profile from a keynote address delivered by Kim Williams (ABC Chair) at the Flinders University's International Symposium on Leadership in the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries at the Adelaide festival Centre during the OzAsia Festival.

Daryl Regan
ABC Friends SA/NT