ABC cuts to result in redundancies

ABC's managing director Mark Scott says budget cuts will cause redundancies and a reduction in services

The ABC logo seen in Sydney

(AAP)

 

The ABC has warned of redundancies and fewer services after the national broadcaster's budget was cut by $120 million over the next four years.

The budget cuts will come on top of the termination of the $220 million contract to deliver the international broadcasting service, the Australia Network.

ABC managing director Mark Scott said that while the ABC would look to make its operations more efficient, the funding cuts would inevitably result in redundancies and fewer services.

"We will need to make funding cuts while trying to also save money to invest in new priorities to ensure the ABC remains a compelling feature of the Australian media landscape," he said.

Mr Scott said the decision to cut the funding for the Australia Network was very disappointing, given the ABC was only one year into a 10-year contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

"Countries around the world are expanding their international broadcasting services as key instruments of public diplomacy," he said.

Mr Scott said the decision ran counter to the approach adopted by the vast majority of G20 countries, which were putting media at the centre of public diplomacy strategies to engage citizens in other countries.

"The agreed strategy with DFAT based on broadcasting, online partnerships and social media was proving successful," he said.


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Source: AAP


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