26 June 2000
New ABC MD's Plans
It is laudable
that the ABC's new Managing Director, Jonathan Shier, wants the ABC
to have the respect of all governments. Unfortunately, Mr Shier's clear
message that the ABC must change to earn respect, indicates he places
the responsibility for lack of government support for the ABC on the
broadcaster, and not on government.
Here and elsewhere, governments
mostly abhor criticism and strive to control independent sources of
information and analysis. Where outright prohibition of independent
scrutiny is not possible, starvation of funds - leading to privatisation
of public broadcasting - is a favourite strategy. Sound familiar?
Action of a nature which
would endear the ABC to such a government would be contrary to the community's
interest to maintain a broadcaster independent from government and commercial
influence, able to fully inform the public and scrutinise the activities
of government.
The ABC is not, as Mr Shier
claimed at a recent press conference, a 'one shareholder corporation',
with that shareholder being the government.
The entire Australian community
are the ABC's shareholders. Mr Shier can take heart from the fact that
independent opinion polls reveal a high level of 'shareholder' satisfaction
with the ABC, also borne out by Friends of the ABC's growing membership.
If he acts to obtain from
government the funds required for talented ABC staff to create programs
and services of the highest quality and to maintain the ABC's independence,
he will earn their admiration also.
Yours sincerely
Darce Cassidy
National Spokesperson