You must have been wondering what was happening with the ABC proposal to make the Sunday 7 pm TV news bulletin a national bulletin.
In summary, we had meetings with Zaneta Mascarenhas and Opposition Leader Shane Love, and contacts with Federal MPs Patrick Gorman and Tania Lawrence, and with Perth ABC staff. We had arranged a meeting with Kate Chaney for later this month.
I collected all the comments from the people who contacted us directly and put them in a document - no names but generalised locations Perth/Outer Perth/Regional/Rural. I sent the document to the office of the ABC Chair Ita Buttrose, as she had said the decision was not final and depended on feedback. Well, she got feedback! You didn't hold back.
So, this morning we had great news. The ABC has reversed its plan to implement a national Sunday night 7 pm bulletin and will instead continue to air local news bulletins after listening to audience feedback.
ABC managing director David Anderson told the national broadcaster’s employees on Wednesday morning that the proposed change to the Sunday night national bulletin is the only proposal the ABC is reversing.
“After listening to audience feedback, it is clear that there are some members of the Australian public who continue to rely on the local Sunday night state bulletin,” Anderson said in an internal email.
Patrick Gorman was quick to write to the ABC about WA coverage and met with ABC Chair Ita Buttrose and Managing Director David Anderson last month. He was assured that ABC job numbers in Western Australia would not change. It was also flagged that there are plans for more special broadcasts and further investment in WA production.
We should also acknowledge the very public opposition of SA premier Peter Malinauskas.
Thanks everyone for your efforts and support.
Cathy Bardon
President
ABC Friends WA