ABC Friends has labelled the appointment of ABC/SBS efficiency auditor Peter Lewis improper.

Lewis was a former commercial broadcast industry executive and has recently been appointed CFO of Southern Cross Austereo.

ABC Friends national spokesperson Glenys Stradijot says:

“ABC Friends believes the Minister’s appointment of Peter Lewis was improper as well as inappropriate.

“After having been given access to confidential information about the internal operations of the ABC and SBS, Mr Lewis is soon to commence a position as chief financial officer of a major commercial competitor to the ABC.

“The appointment of a former finance head of a commercial media outlet to run the review was a strong indicator that outcomes it proposed would be for the ABC to operate along more commercial lines.

“The Government cut ABC funding in the May Budget and plans to axe the Australia Network international broadcasting. Now it appears there are more cuts, outsourcing and the merging of some ABC and SBS operations ahead – the result of so-called ‘efficiencies’ identified by a commercial operator… Minister Turnbull’s review appeared to have been established at the outset to cut the ABC and to push it in a more commercial direction.  ‘Efficiency review’ has become government lingo for ‘cuts’.”

Meanwhile, the Public Sector Union has launched an online campaign against ABC cuts.
 

 

Efficiency Review graphic from Shutterstock.