Chapter 1

Introduction

Conduct of the inquiry

1.1 On 27 November 2012 the Senate referred the matter of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) commitment to reflecting and representing regional diversity in Australia to the Environment and Communications References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report.[1] The committee resolved to report to the Senate by 20 March 2013.

1.2 The terms of reference for the inquiry were:

(a) the commitment by the ABC to reflecting and representing regional diversity in Australia;

(b) the impact that the increased centralisation of television production in Sydney and Melbourne has had on the ABC's ability to reflect national identify and diversity; and

1.3 In accordance with usual practice, the committee advertised the inquiry on its website and wrote to relevant organisations inviting submissions by 18 January 2013.[3] The inquiry was advertised nationally in The Australian newspaper on 5 December 2012.

1.4 The committee received 65 submissions (for a list of submissions see Appendix 1). The committee also held two public hearings: the first in Hobart on 1 February 2013 and the second in Perth on 7 March 2013 (for a list of witnesses see Appendix 2).

1.5 The committee would like to thank all individuals and organisations that contributed to this inquiry.

Context of the inquiry

1.6 On 20 November 2012, ABC Managing Director, Mr Mark Scott AO, announced the ABC's intention to close its Hobart television production unit.[4] It was announced that the Hobart production unit, which in recent years produced ABC shows Collectors and Auction Room, would be replaced by a production fund to engage independent production companies to create content from Tasmania.[5] Closure of the production unit would result in the loss of 17 positions within ABC Hobart.[6]

1.7 Speaking to ABC Radio following the announcement of the closure, Mr Scott stated:

Tasmania is a very important part of the ABC. We've run an internal television production model for a number of years here.

But now we think we will be able to better reflect the Tasmanian story by working closer with the independent production sector.

We are committed to Tasmania; we are committed to telling Tasmanian stories. That's what our new production fund will be designed to ensure happens.

It's very difficult to have the volume of production that you need to make it economic to sustain that production unit.[7]

1.8 In response to the ABC's announcement, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy, issued a press release stating that it 'is an extremely disappointing decision by the ABC'.[8] The minister further called on the ABC Board to:

...ensure that the broadcaster upholds its clear obligations in relation to cultural diversity and local programming.

Cutting its production facilities in Tasmania could result in a dramatic reduction in the telling of Tasmanian stories, something that diminishes the ABC and short-changes the people of Tasmania.[9]

1.9 The minister also found it concerning that 'the ABC continues to centralise its production processes in Sydney and Melbourne'. The minister recommended that 'the ABC should immediately reconsider its decision'.[10]

Structure of the report

1.10 Chapter 2 of this report provides background detail on the ABC as the national broadcaster and its history in broadcasting and reflecting regional Australia. The chapter also gives an overview of past reviews conducted into the ABC.

1.11 Chapter 3 discusses some of the key issues raised during the course of the inquiry, namely the ability of the ABC to reflect regional Australia, the effect of the centralisation of ABC production in Sydney and Melbourne and the impact of the closure of the Perth and Hobart production units.

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