REVIEW OF ABC ROLE



REVIEW OF ABC ROLE

AND FUNCTIONS

ACTU SUBMISSION

D. 85/1996 November 1996

INDEX

INTRODUCTION Page 1

A. Decision-making Processes Page 2

B. Scope of ABC Activities Page 4

C. Some Priorities Page 7

D. Funding Page 10

ATTACHMENT A

ACTU Congress September 1995

Media Policy, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Page 13

INTRODUCTION

1. The ACTU is the largest representative organisation in Australia - 2.3 million Australian workers are members of unions affiliated with the ACTU. These members and other Australians should have access to comprehensive quality ABC programs.

2. ACTU support for the ABC as an effective, dynamic and independent publicly owned national media and cultural institution is reflected in the Policy on the ABC adopted by the ACTU Congress in September 1995. The ACTU's Policy on the ABC is at Attachment A.

3. The following affiliates of the ACTU who represent employees of the ABC have made submissions to the Review:

1. the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU);

2. the Media, Arts and Entertainment Alliance (MEAA); and

3. the Musicians Union of Australia (MUA).

In addition, the Symphony Orchestra Musicians Association (SOMA) has made a submission on behalf of players in orchestras.

4. The Review also has received a submission from Education Unions - the Australian Education Union (AEU), the Independent Education Union (IEU) and the National Tertiary Education and Industry Union (NTEU) pointing out that "The ABC, as it currently exists, and its future role and function are of fundamental importance to our membership and to the children and students they educate". The United Trades and Labor Council of South Australia also has made a submission.

5.

6. Those union submissions contain much evidence in support of recommendations to the Review which this ACTU Submission does not repeat. Those submissions also cover operational arrangements for the ABC which we do not discuss in this Submission.

7. The ACTU Council in September 1996 endorsed a campaign against cuts to public spending "recognising that the Federal Government's budget and associated policies will lead to significant job losses, and cuts to programs, services and benefits to the community". The future and funding of the ABC is a key component of our campaign.

8. The ACTU makes recommendations on a number of key matters in the following areas:-

A. Decision - making Processes

B. Scope of ABC Activities

C. Some Priorities

D. Funding

A. DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES

1. The ACTU is concerned about Government decisions made before the Review's establishment in respect of the Review's Terms of Reference. The Government did not consult even the ABC about the Terms of Reference.

2. The ACTU recommends that the Review comment in its Report on the adequacy of the Terms of Reference for a comprehensive Review of the ABC.

3. The Review's "Information Paper" states that "The Review provides an opportunity for the community to express its views on the future role of the ABC and ABC activities it most values".

4. It is not surprising that the Review has received a large number of submissions from Australians supporting the ABC. Support for the ABC throughout the Australian community rightly is widespread. Those in the community who have expressed their views for the Review should be informed on the response to their views in the Review Report.

5. It is imperative that there be full opportunity for Australians to debate the Review's recommendations. The ACTU/unions wish to be involved in the debate prior to any major decisions about the future of the ABC. The ACTU/unions also would be making representations to Members of Parliament/Senators in respect of any proposed legislative changes. The ACTU also supports community representation in ABC decision making and advisory roles.

6. The ACTU recommends that the Review's Report be made available publicly in advance of any Government decision arising from the Review.

7. The ACTU recommends that Government decisions on the future of the ABC not be taken until there has been an adequate opportunity for public debate on the Review's recommendations.

B. SCOPE OF ABC ACTIVITIES

1. The ABC's obligations under its Charter include to:

4. provide within Australian innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services, including programs that:

- contribute to a sense of national identity and reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community;

- are of an educational nature.

5. transmit outside of Australian programs that encourage awareness of Australia and an international understanding of Australian attitudes on world affairs; and

6. encourage and promote performing arts.

2. The ABC is required to take account in providing services within Australia of:

7. broadcasting services provided by the commercial and community sectors of the Australian broadcasting system;

8. its responsibility as the provider of an independent national broadcasting service to provide a balance between programs of wide appeal and specialised broadcasting programs;

9. the multicultural character of the Australian community.

10. 3. The Charter supports the ABC's role as a comprehensive broadcaster and reflects distinctive obligations of the ABC. The ABC has pointed out in its Submission that, for example, no other Australian broadcaster has the obligation of:

11. encouraging and promoting performing arts in Australia; or

12. providing a balance between broadcasting services of wide appeal and specialised broadcasting services.

4. The ABC correctly argues that the national broadcasting system brings strengths not brought by other sectors of the Australian broadcasting sector of innovation, comprehensiveness, independence, quality, diversity, a sense of national identity and reflection of the cultural diversity of the Australian community.

5. The current and future Australian situation provides a strong basis for strengthening the scope of activities of the national broadcaster.

6. Our societal and economic situation includes increasing:

a] changes to family and working life;

b] influence on Australians of international and national level decision-making;

c] multi-cultural diversity of Australia's population;

d] involvement in the Asia-Pacific region;

e] pressure to increase exports of goods and services;

f] education and demand for educational services; and

g] strength and variety of Australian talent, including of innovative performers.

7. Our situation in respect of broadcasting and media includes increasing:

a] opportunities from technology for increased coverage, quality and diversity of services, including increased capacity for local services;

b] integration of Australia into commercial global media and broadcasting;

c] growth in scope of commercial broadcasting and media interests;

d] pressure for liberalisation of commercial media broadcasting cross-media and foreign ownership restrictions;

e] concentration of control of commercial media and broadcasting in Australia;

f] recognition of the diversity of audiences which make up the listening and viewing publics;

g] opportunities for exchange of material between different broadcasting units and other synergies;

h] withdrawal of commercial interests from local programming in regional Australia; and

i] limitations on the mix of content provided by commercial broadcasters, with the risk of subscription services reducing free-to-air services.

8. The ACTU recommends that the ABC:

13. remain a comprehensive public broadcaster providing a range of services to all Australians;

14. retain a comprehensive Charter which should not be diminished; and

15. increase the scope of its activities in light of Australia's current and future situation.

C. SOME PRIORITIES

1. It would be ambitious to attempt to be exhaustive about ABC activities in our current and future situation.

2. Priorities for the ABC should include:

a] production and broadcasting of programs of quality to urban, regional, rural and remote communities, no matter how they receive their broadcasting services;

b] local broadcasting services, including news and public affairs services, which reflect the needs of communities across Australia;

c] balanced representation of the interests of groups such as Aboriginals, women, people from different cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs;

d] production and delivery of specialised programs - for example, science, environment and medicine;

e] innovation in high quality broadcasting, encompassing a range of programming and technology;

f] expansion of on-line services;

g] production of content suitable for international sale;

h] preservation of a high level of editorial independence;

i] presentation of a range of issues differently from commercial broadcasters;

j] independent adequately funded international, national and local news and public affairs services, without reliance on any commercial domestic services;

k] preservation of the independence of Radio Australia and Australia TV through retention within the ABC;

l] enhancement of Radio Australia services, including in Non-English languages;

k] coverage of foreign issues by Australians;

l] development of Australian talent through employment in ABC production and programming and through live and recorded programs;

m] improved levels of Australian content in drama, children's programming and music;

n] information and news on current developments in the arts across Australia and overseas, recognising our scattered population and isolation from many important cultural centres;

o] increased broadcasting and recording of Australian music, including jazz; and

p] expansion of programs which are explicitly educational.

3. The ACTU recommends that the ABC have the capacity to meet important priorities, as well as on-going commitments.

D. FUNDING

1. The ACTU opposes Government decisions on ABC funding made prior to the establishment of the Review. The 1996-97 budget indicated cuts to ABC funding of $11 million for 1996-97 and foreshadowed a further $55 million cut for 1997-98. These allocations are not referred to in the Review's Terms of Reference, although they are referred to in the Information Paper.

2. These allocations are inadequate, following previous real reductions. The ABC in its Submission for the Review comments that:

"However, the ABC's measures indicate that performance is beginning to decline in a number of areas as a direct result of having to absorb a continuing funding gap year after year".

3. The ABC has also pointed to survey results indicating that 85 per cent of Australians agreed that the ABC's funding levels should be maintained or increased.

4. The allocations breach the Coalition's pre-election promises to maintain the ABC's funding in real terms and provide triennial funding for the Broadcaster.

5. The ACTU recommends that consideration of the ABC's Role and Functions not be circumscribed by an a priori view expressed in the 1996-97 Budget about short-term ABC funding.

6. Funding for the ABC should permit the ABC to enhance its activities in high priority areas, such as:

- the shift to digital technology;

- increased Australian content in music, drama, comedy and children's programs; and

- the extension of coverage of Radio Triple J.

7. The ACTU recommends that the Review support Government provision of adequate funding for the ABC to deliver an improved standard and scope of program services, including adequate capital funds.

8. Triennial funding should be provided to enable the ABC to plan and commit to programming and technology, including new requirements. Annual budget hassling is not conducive to broadcasting excellence.

9. The ACTU recommends that the Review support triennial funding for the ABC with adjustments which reflect the ABC's cost structure more accurately than the recent adjustor.

10. The ACTU recommends that the Review support restoration of the ABC future funding base at least to what it would have been had the 2% reduction not been applied in 1996-97.

11. The independence of the ABC from advertisers or sponsors should be preserved. If the ABC were forced to look for advertisements or sponsorship to supplement budget appropriations it would lose the independence it has over programming and content. ABC advertising and sponsorship would reduce revenues from and the quality of free-to-air television.

12. The ABC reported in its Submission that a 1990 ANOP Study found that 81% of all respondents were opposed to advertising - including 86% of ABC television viewers and 86% of ABC radio listeners. Reasons given included concerns about loss of independence and a dislike of ads and commercialism.

13. The ACTU recommends that corporate sponsorship and advertising on the ABC continue to be prohibited.

ATTACHMENT A

ACTU CONGRESS SEPTEMBER 1995

MEDIA POLICY

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (ABC)

The ACTU will support:

[i] the ABC as an effective, dynamic and independent publicly owned national media and cultural institution;

[ii] triennial indexed funding for the ABC at a level which will allow for an improved standard of programming and services - including improved levels of Australian content in drama, children's programming and music;

[iii] adequate capital funds for the ABC's property and re-equipment needs;

[iv] local ABC programming reflecting the needs of communities across Australia;

[v] independent adequately funded ABC international, national and local news gathering and public affairs services without reliance on any commercial domestic news service;

[vi] speciality ABC programs to meet demands not met by the commercial sector;

[vii] legislative prohibition of corporate sponsoring and advertising on the ABC;

[viii] community representation in decision making and advisory roles; and

[ix] participation on the Board of people with union and consumer experience.

D.85/1996

November 1996

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