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Will restoring the ABC's budget mean the restoring of programming and staffing levels before the cuts were made?
For example will "7.30" be restored to Friday evenjngs? Recall that "7.30" was broadcast on Friday evenings. For budget reasons the Friday edition became state-based hosted by Quentin Dempster (NSW) then for budget reasons the Friday edition of "7.30" was no more.
Another example of program reduction due to budget cuts was the elimination of the 0745 news bulletin.
Let's not forget 1200 weekday program "The World Today" cut from one hour to thirty minutes. Will "The World Today" be restored to one hour?
But then can I believe the reductions in staffing levels especially in the news departments were due to budget levels?
Budget cuts have not stopped new faces appearing on "ABC News". How could they afford new staff?
It seems the staff and programming reductions due to budget cuts is losing credibility.
Alternatively can the ABC manage money?
The ABC is proposing to reallocate 300 staff to Parramatta.
A Parliamentary enquiry into the ABC said that the reallocation of staff will not cost taxpayers.
Prima facie that looks good. The proceeds of the sale of its remaining real estate assets on the North Shore will pay for the Parramatta relocation.
But the payment for the Parramatta site is a lease not purchase. Leases are recurrent expenditure which will consume the proceeds from the sale of its North Shore property.
With proposals for further expansion of its Parramatta centre, the lease will eat more of the proceeds of the North Shore sale. Then the ABC will cry poor for funding in the future.
In conclusion, time will tell whether there will be a restoration of programming and staffing levels after a restoration of funding. It seems budget reasons for staffing levels in news lack credibility given new faces on ABC News. There will be funding issues when re-signing leases for its Parramatta site based on the proceeds once off sale of its North Shore assets.
Thank you,
Anthony, Belfield, in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nation