Friends of the ABC (Vic) Inc
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2008 AGM – given by Gael Barrett, Vice President 
INTRODUCTION
This year when we have come together it is time to celebrate! Put aside for the moment the hard work still to be done - I'll come back to that later. Congratulate yourselves. As the result of the good work of Friends of the ABC and its supporters, the new Labor Government came to office with a platform to introduce a new merit-based and transparent process for appointments to the ABC Board and to restore the staff elected director position - a process it has recently begun to implement.
No system can prevent a government from stacking the ABC Board. But this system reduces the likelihood that will occur, and increases the likelihood that governments will appoint people well-qualified for the job.
In the longer term, it will have significance for all public appointments, not just the ABC. This is a major achievement.
WHAT'S HAPPENED THIS YEAR
This year has continued to be another of active campaigning for FABC - getting the word out to the public and into the media, addressing other organisations, lobbying politicians and responding to important happenings to the ABC as they arise. FABC spent much time informing, communicating with and urging members and others to action in support of the ABC.
But before I talk more on our activities, I will report briefly on some operational matters. 
FABC's operation
. Some FABC local groups have continued to be active - campaigning and conducting social functions and fundraisers. Others are in need of regeneration, having lost energetic members for one reason or another.
Getting together in groups - geographically based, or interest or activity-based, still continues to be a productive, and often enjoyable way, to get involved in FABC. So please do let FABC's office know if you have an interest in this.
. FABC is increasing information available to members online - through its website www.fabc.org.au and the subscription email service that runs off it. This does not mean we will abandon hard copy mailouts. But those with online access can be better informed between mailouts. 
Activities
During this year:
. FABC wrote to every member of the new Coalition Opposition, to seek their support for a new ABC Board appointment process, which provides an important opportunity to demonstrate bipartisan support for the national broadcaster. 
We met Bruce Billson, the Coalition's communications spokesperson first appointed after the election, and have made contact with their new communications spokesperson, Senator Minchin.
Unfortunately, the Coalition remains opposed to there being a staff-director, and Senator Minchin's attitude to the new board appointment process is that it is "something of a farce".
. While FABC's efforts to nominate people for the Government's Australia 2020 Summit (held in April this year) were unsuccessful, we made formal submissions to the Summit and lobbied its participants.
The ABC was a significant topic of discussion at the Summit and FABC received positive feedback for its efforts - from Saul Eslake (senior economist, ANZ bank) to Margaret Seares (Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Uni of WA and former CEO Aus Council), and Hugh Jackman, to name a few. 
Key Issues
. The new process of making appointments to the ABC Board is being implemented as each vacancy occurs - presently, there are two positions vacant. In the meantime, it is of serious concern that people not appointed for their merit or independence, let alone both, remain on the ABC Board.
Another matter of concern is the lack of transparency in the ABC Board's operations. FABC has written to the Government on this matter.
. Funding remains a key issue. FABC must ensure that recent positive comments of Senator Conroy, the communications minister in the new government (reported on the front of The Age) translate into sufficient funding to ensure the ABC, including Radio Australia is rebuilt.
It is critical the national broadcaster be funded to fully participate in new media technologies, such as digital and online, if it is to remain relevant. But this must not occur at the expense of content development for all delivery platforms - radio included.
FABC also needs to continue its efforts to ensure that funding is delivered in a manner that upholds the ABC's independence from government. 
. There is a growing trend towards commercialisation of the ABC under the present board and management. This is occurring in all kinds of different ways. Briefly, they include:
- interminable on-air 'announcements', so-called to get around the advertising prohibition on ABC radio and television. (Please keep an eye out. Complain to the ABC and provide FABC with full details of any for which you cannot see any reasonable connection to the ABC.) 
- ratings-focused programming, particularly on local radio
- the closure of specialist TV programming units and outsourcing of production. Several weeks ago, 35 television production staff were informed their jobs are to be axed.
- cuts to Radio National's specialist programs announced for next year - though this is in part the result of inadequate funding.
- setting up ABC websites with ads ('Countdown', and others are planned)
- selling ABC content to commercial websites, where it is surrounded by ads
- an interest by the ABC to charge the public for new services that online allows the public broadcaster to deliver
More FABC Activities
. All members received FABC's Petition to the ABC Board opposing the ABC's commercialisation. Please do what you can to collect signatures wherever you go. Send petitions to friends and colleagues - locally and interstate. 
. With the last newsletter, all members received a flyer with information about the government's ABC & SBS Review ('ABC and SBS: Towards a Digital Future'). 
Allowing the ABC to engage in dubious commercial activities and to charge for some of its services are all under consideration by the government. (What government wouldn't welcome being able to provide less funding!)
So please, please write a letter yourself, and help others. We must do what we did with the Mansfield Review set up by the former government - send thousands of letters to let them know we value the ABC, it must be well funded, a producer of high quality programs, commercial-free and accessible to all Australians without charge.
No matter how short, the fact that you take the time to send a letter is important. 
. Further copies of the Petition and Review flyer can be obtained today, from FABC's office, or from FABC's website www.fabc.org.au for those who prefer to get the word around by email.
We ask that petitions are returned to us by mid February. Their impact will be greater if we can present a large number together to the ABC Board.
. Members also received, with the last newsletter, an invitation to FABC's meeting, 'Think Nationally, Act Locally' on Saturday 22 November. This is your opportunity to discuss issues and plan action. We encourage you to bring a friend, preferably a potential member.
Even if you can't stay for the day, you may want to come for the ABC speakers in the morning - Kim Dalton, the head of ABC TV, and Radio National presenter Peter Mares.
An RSVP to FABC office is essential. 
. In a week's time, Friends of the ABC's website will provide details of a forum on the state of the Australian media, which the Fabians are organising in conjunction with Friends of the ABC. Unfortunately we are unable to mail hard copies - too costly as the event will occur before our next newsletter - but you can phone FABC if you miss taking details now. The forum is 'State of the 4th Estate'. Mary Delahunty will act as moderator for the speakers - Michael Gawenda, Eric Beecher and Ramona Koval. It will be held on Wed 3 Dec, 6-8pm, at the State Library Theatrette (entrance via LaTrobe Street). 
Thanks 
Before I conclude, I would like to thank some people. 
. Firstly, I would like to thank all of those who contribute so much to FABC - for their time and effort in the valuable work they undertake, and to pass on to you all here today the thanks and appreciation that FABC not infrequently receives from ABC staff for the support that FABC gives.
. There are a couple of long-term members of FABC's committee of management who have contributed greatly to FABC and are not seeking re-election at this AGM, whom we would like to especially acknowledge: Michael Kinnane who travelled regularly from Geelong over many years, and Membership Secretary Peter Milton, also a regular helper in FABC's office, who has recently developed health problems. We also wish to thank Judith Rodriguez for her contribution. Judith retired from the committee in April this year after two and a half years as president.
. Two people we would especially like to recognise at this time are Shirley Parkes and Rosie Spears. Rosie and Shirley have organised and conducted countless FABC stalls over many years. This is one of FABC's most important tasks - getting the word out to the community and encouraging them to act. 

Shirley and Rosie are wanting to take a break, and looking for others they can train and recruit to share this important work. FABC office is keen to hear from any of you interested to be involved in a stall working group.

Conclusion
. FABC must continue as a strong and active organisation - to keep the new government, and the ABC on track.
. To be effective, a major campaign like Friends of the ABC needs members. Numbers equal influence - when speaking with politicians and with the ABC. And members keep the organisation operating.
On each seat today is a membership form and a past newsletter. I urge everybody here to use these to recruit at least one new member. Perhaps, post them to someone you know, suggesting they may like to consider joining. 
. The ABC's significance - to Australian democracy and culture - grows as the quality of other mass media declines, and as the cost of other services, like education, increases.
I look forward to continuing to work with you - to ensure the ABC thrives as a producer of information, ideas, education and quality entertainment, and to ensure the public broadcaster remains commercial-free, and accessible to all Australians.