Friends of the ABC criticise efficiency review
Friends of the ABC (Vic) has criticised the federal government’s efficiency review of the ABC, describing it as “outrageous and dangerous interference in the ABC’s independence”.
The announcement:
“The Government’s announced efficiency review of the ABC is an outrageous and dangerous interference in the ABC’s independence”, said Glenys Stradijot, a spokesperson for Friends of the ABC (Vic)
Management training often discusses the differences between efficiency and effectiveness – doing the job right versus doing the right job.
The ABC has been dragged kicking and screaming into the modern corporate world and has improved its business practices and still has a long way to go, so I understand the ongoing need for ‘efficiency reviews’.
On the flip side of the coin maybe there needs to be an ‘effectiveness review’ of all media in Australia … you know with licence rebates, tax concessions etc. all effecting the public purse strings.
Just maybe by reporting some unpalatable stories the ABC may have been more effective than some people would like them to be.
Never forget what history teaches us about the events of October 6, 2001 and SIEV IV. The unthinkable event turned out not to be that the children had been thrown overboard but that our government and various of its representatives decided to jettison the truth for political gain. Keep your minds open dear people.
how many rounds of cost cutting did Seven, Nine and Ten (not to mention just about every other supplier) go through over the last ten years – I’m guessing somewhere between 4-8?
they delivered a more streamlined operation in response to a market that was cutting their margins, therefore still delivering value to their stake holders.
Have the ABC ever had a similar operational review or been required to improve their efficiencies? I can’t see any reason why they should be exempt from this sort of scrutiny or not required to deliver the best ROI to the tax payer as possible…
Actually JibberJabber Howard conducted a review in 2006. The report was buried. Under FOI it has seen the light of day. Underfunded by more than $100m per annum.
If you want a commission of audit … let’s start with defence!
I hear everyone’s points on this one.
BUT unless you don’t pay taxes in this country you should welcome a review of any publicly funded entity, just to make sure they’re spending their (OUR!) money in the best way possible to do what their supposed to do.
Have you seen the ABC offices, puts even News Ltd to shame
A basic fiscal role of any government should be to make sure tax money is spent efficiently. If people suspect motives or simply do not trust the government to do this properly then they shouldn’t vote for them.
If the ABC are as under-funded as is stated (and I have no opinion whether it is or it isn’t), then those claiming as such should welcome such a review with open arms.
Not sure which floors you’re referring to JS, as I sit typing at my Ultimo desk my carpet is filthy with grime dating back to the 70s (I’ve not once seen a person with a vacuum in my two years here), there are floppy disks and paper files gathering dust and creating that musty smell and a regular round of afternoon sneeze attacks, and the teabags and milk are from Aldi – bought by a staff member to share! We’re certainly not living the high life here!
But I digress. There have been a couple of separate ‘production sustainability reports’ conducted since I arrived here, resulting in staff reductions and re-structures to reduce the number of senior positions employed. Be interesting to see what more fat can be trimmed…I’m not adverse to some more clearing out of the cobwebs! Just frustrating for it to be done in Abbott’s name.
err.. averse