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ABC expected to axe Q+A in fresh round of cuts ABC expected to axe Q+A in fresh round of cuts
(31 minutes later)
Managing director Hugh Marks to unveil changes at public broadcaster on WednesdayManaging director Hugh Marks to unveil changes at public broadcaster on Wednesday
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ABC managing director Hugh Marks is expected to unveil his first tranche of changes at the public broadcaster on Wednesday morning, including a fresh round of redundancies and the axing of Q+A after 18 years. The ABC’s managing director, Hugh Marks, is expected to unveil his first tranche of changes at the public broadcaster on Wednesday morning, including a new round of redundancies and the axing of Q+A after 18 years.
The groundbreaking weekly flagship discussion program was launched in 2007 by executive producer Peter McEvoy and host Tony Jones and was highly influential in its early years. The weekly flagship discussion program was launched in 2007 by executive producer Peter McEvoy and host Tony Jones and was highly influential in its early years.
Q+A is expected to be cut, according to a source briefed on the changes who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak publicly. The ABC did not confirm the changes when contacted for comment. Q+A is expected to be cut, according to a source briefed on the changes, who asked to remain anonymous as they were not authorised to speak publicly. The ABC did not confirm the changes when contacted for comment.
ABC staff were warned of looming cuts on Tuesday by the journalists’ union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which told ABC members of colleagues being called into meetings with managers “regarding a restructure”.ABC staff were warned of looming cuts on Tuesday by the journalists’ union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which told ABC members of colleagues being called into meetings with managers “regarding a restructure”.
The raft of changes comes just three months after Marks took over in March from David Anderson who was the managing director for six years. Sign up to get Guardian Australia’s weekly media diary as a free newsletter
Marks signalled earlier that he was reviewing whether the ABC needed to “do everything” or could “spend our resources more wisely on doing fewer things better”. Sign up to get Guardian Australia’s weekly media diary as a free newsletter
While there will be cuts and redundancies there are expected to be new projects including a new unit dedicated to documentaries, something which has been strongly backed by ABC chair Kim Williams. The raft of changes comes after Marks took over in March from David Anderson who was the managing director for six years.
Marks indicated earlier that he was reviewing whether the ABC needed to “do everything” or could “spend our resources more wisely on doing fewer things better”.
While there will be cuts and redundancies there are expected to be new projects including a new unit dedicated to documentaries, something which has been strongly backed by the ABC chair, Kim Williams.
In his first week Marks told staff he wanted ABC journalism, audio and video output to have “a real and meaningful impact” and acknowledged earlier restructures when he said that “change is exhausting”.In his first week Marks told staff he wanted ABC journalism, audio and video output to have “a real and meaningful impact” and acknowledged earlier restructures when he said that “change is exhausting”.
“We are and can continue to explore new content genres and formats,” Marks said. “We are and will continue to find ways of connecting with audiences at times and in ways that Australians choose. We have the advantage that in exploring this changed world we can focus solely on serving the Australian audience unimpeded by commercial implications.”“We are and can continue to explore new content genres and formats,” Marks said. “We are and will continue to find ways of connecting with audiences at times and in ways that Australians choose. We have the advantage that in exploring this changed world we can focus solely on serving the Australian audience unimpeded by commercial implications.”
The last round of redundancies was announced in June 2023 by Anderson and involved 100 job losses. But the biggest round in recent history was in 2017 when then-managing director Michelle Guthrie reorganised the ABC along genre lines and made some 200 roles redundant. The last round of redundancies was announced in June 2023 by Anderson and involved 100 job losses. But the biggest round in recent history was in 2017 when then-managing director Michelle Guthrie reorganised the ABC along genre lines and made 200 roles redundant.
Q+A has been hosted by Patricia Karvelas since July 2023 when Stan Grant stood down.Q+A has been hosted by Patricia Karvelas since July 2023 when Stan Grant stood down.
The ABC appointed Grant the full-time host of the weekly flagship discussion program in August 2022, a year after Hamish Macdonald quit and was replaced by rotating hosts. The ABC appointed Grant the full-time host of the program in August 2022, a year after Hamish Macdonald quit and was replaced by rotating hosts.
Macdonald, who now hosts Mornings on ABC Radio, replaced Jones in 2020 after the original host stepped down after 12 years in the seat.
Williams and Marks have been busy making major changes behind the scenes, sources say. Some changes have already been made by Williams, including elevating ABC Radio to the executive team.Williams and Marks have been busy making major changes behind the scenes, sources say. Some changes have already been made by Williams, including elevating ABC Radio to the executive team.
Williams reversed Anderson’s decision to put radio and TV in one content division and moved it into a stand alone division in October.Williams reversed Anderson’s decision to put radio and TV in one content division and moved it into a stand alone division in October.
The MEAA said members may be placed into “redundancy pools or their roles may be made redundant”.The MEAA said members may be placed into “redundancy pools or their roles may be made redundant”.
“The mismanagement of our ABC needs to end,” the MEAA said. “ABC management are simultaneously wasting public money on limousines, and expensive lawyers while cutting staff jobs and pushing all budgetary risk onto low paid, insecure staff who work hard to hold the line on editorial standards.” “The mismanagement of our ABC needs to end,” the MEAA said. “ABC management are simultaneously wasting public money on limousines, and expensive lawyers while cutting staff jobs and pushing all budgetary risk on to low paid, insecure staff who work hard to hold the line on editorial standards.”
Hamish Macdonald, who now hosts Mornings on ABC Radio, replaced Jones in 2020 after the original host stepped down after 12 years in the seat.