Local champions of the national broadcaster

LAST year, before COVID hit, the Friends of the ABC Ballarat was formed with the aim of supporting the national broadcaster.

After seeing budget cuts limit the operations of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the group set out to protect the national institution in the Ballarat region.

Spokesperson for the group David MacPhail said the Friends of the ABC Ballarat see the ABC as having a role to play in keeping society upright and informed.

“We want the ABC to have its funding restored,” he said. “$84 million on indexation was the most recent one and before that there was about $870 million cut out of the ABC and about 1200 positions lost since 2014.

Having recently met in person to discuss the groups aims and strategies for the year, the collective is also looking forward to the next online meeting on 12 April which will see recognised journalist Sue Ahearn speak.

As a co-convenor of the Australia Asia Pacific Media Initiative, Mr MacPhail said it will be great to hear Ms Ahearn expert opinion on why Australian media presence in the Asia-Pacific should be both restored and expanded.

The meeting is not the only activity the Friends are undertakings.

“At present, we also attend market stalls because information and awareness raising is a big part of what we do,” he said.

“We also regularly talk to the media and look at ways we can support the campaign to protect journalism as well as campaign around elections to encourage governments to restore funding to the ABC.

“In addition, as the 1 July 1932 was when the ABC began, on that date this year we will be holding some sort of a celebration of the ABC.”

Along with all that activism and activity, the Friends of the ABC Ballarat also submitted their own response to the Federal Government’s recent Senate Inquiry into media diversity.

“Our submission is along those lines, firstly to protect and restore the ABC funding and stop the attacks,” Mr MacPhail said.

“Our second thing is to protect the regional and rural outlets which won’t benefit if there is an amalgamation and the corporate giants take over little media outlets, jobs and diversity will be lost.”

For more information or to join the Friends of the ABC in their campaigning, contact 0476 247 870 or [email protected].