The Acting Managing Director of the ABC, David Anderson,  has written to staff telling them that despite extensive requests from the ABC, the Budget papers have locked in the $83.7 million pause in indexation funding flagged in last year’s budget.

He has told staff that on top of the $254 million the ABC has had to absorb in efficiency cuts over the past five years, the first year impact of a $14.6 million cut will mean that to meet costs there will have to be some tough decisions on staffing and services.

Mr Anderson says the significant elements of the budget for the ABC are the extension of the Enhanced News Program and the imposition of the indexation pause in funding and that the continued funding is seen as being crucial to the delivery of news, analysis and investigations to the Australian public.

So far the special funding has assisted the news division in investing in new programs and services with over 100 journalists, camera operators, digital producers and support staff have been recruited.

Director of ABC News, Analysis and Investigations, Gaven Morris, says this program has become an essential component of ABC strategy and audience delivery. “It complements the $15 million a year investment we have made in regional news. It allows us to create jobs at a time when commercial news media are reducing services, particularly in regional Australia.”