background briefing .....................8
Friends of the ABC Australia

Relocation and co-location

New facilities for new technologies

There has been much controversy and angst between staff and management and in the press over plans to sell and replace production facilities in Sydney. I couldn't attempt to explain this wrangle, which has totally overshadowed developments in the other states. As usual with the ABC the success stories tend to go unreported - except in your national newsletter!

There was a great building boom by the ABC in the '60s. Much of this is out of repair or unsuitable for today's needs. Much sits on valuable land in the CBD. The untold story is the amount of building and renovation that has been going on.

This is especially true of Perth. A huge and valuable site with outdated facilities has been sold off and a purpose-built digital, radio, television and multimedia complex is being built. Perth will also have a new up-to-the-minute outside broadcast van. The recently corporatised WA Symphony is to have a new home.

The ABC is to do something similar with its valuable riverfront property at Toowong in Brisbane. The most valuable riverside land will be privately developed and the new ABC complex will be built on the remainder.

Australia Talks Books

Australia Talks Back on Radio National has started a new public forum combining literature, radio and the Internet. On the last Friday of each month ring up, log on or just tune in to join the discussion about the book of the month. Presented by Sandy McCutcheon and Ramona Koval.

Listen out for:

  • MARCH - Lovesong by Elizabeth Jolley
  • APRIL - Alias Grace by Margaret Attwood
  • MAY - Nice Try by Shane Maloney
  • JUNE - Gift Of Story by Marion Halligan
  • JULY - Romulus, My Father by Rai Gaita
  • TOLL-FREE TALKBACK: 1800 802 341

In Canberra much of the old Northbourne Avenue site will be redeveloped. A new digital broadcasting centre to complement the Parliament House bureau will be built to replace facilities that are forty years old. Plans are in train for the ABC to refurbish the Ripponlea television complex in Melbourne, and to 'collocate' television and radio news and current affairs at Southbank, adjacent to Radio Australia operations.

The vast '60s building in Adelaide could not find a buyer and instead is being redeveloped. Some floors have been leased and the area for continuing use has been refurbished. The news and current affairs television and radio studios are state-of-the-art creation.

Overshadowing these developments have been the changes in Sydney. The ABC is to sell off most of the old Gore Hill site, where the buildings were in a poor state of repair, and build on vacant land at Ultimo. There will be four new television studios replacing three existing ones at Gore Hill, and a new soundstage will be built on the remaining land at Gore Hill. A large group of staff at Gore Hill remains opposed to these changes but the plans were recently endorsed by the Board.

From FABC Victoria

Election Vigil

In the week leading up to the federal election, the Vics held an election camp-down, a 24 hour vigil in which the Friends camped on ABC Southbank's doorstep. It drew public attention to what was happening to the ABC, and provided an excellent opportunity to speak with numerous politicians who visited ABC studios prior to the election.

Michael Leunig visits the camp-down. Left, June Factor; right, Glenys Stradijot.

Kerry O'Brien at the AGM

Addressing Victoria's AGM in November last year, Kerry O'Brien - editor and compere of the 7.30 Report and one of Australia's most outstanding journalists- told the meeting that the current pattern of political attack on the ABC is unprecedented, and that the ABC has never been under greater threat.

 

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