A new kind of interference in the future of the national broadcaster

The Board’s responsibility is to ensure that the ABC is efficiently, effectively, accountably and independently run. Programming decisions are the ABC’s to make, not those of the government of the day.

Because the ABC is a public institution, operating with public funds it needs to be efficient and mindful of the temper of the times and the public policy issues confronting the nation. Clearly regional issues, maintaining a vibrant Australian production industry and active participation by citizens in the digital age, are matters of public priority.

However the individual programs that are made within this framework must be a matter for the ABC, its Board, staff and management – not for the Minister, Department or expenditure review committee.

Particular grants for particular areas of operation stand to tilt the ABC in one direction or another, especially at a time when years of under-funding have left the ABC precious little discretionary funding in a key area of operations like news and current affairs, documentaries and drama.

In all of this - swingeing cuts, political assaults, legislative manipulation - the Board has remained shamefully ineffectual and compliant.

Information will be the hard currency of the 21st century but broadcasting will be the social hinge of change. Yet our Government's efforts have been directed at ensuring that the door of opportunity swings open as narrowly a possible. No new players, prettier pictures, but content much as before.

There has been scant appreciation of what is required for the ABC to exist as an effective participant in the new digital era; and absolutely no recognition of the support needed for it to take a benchmarking role for the public benefit. Changing this will require imaginative public policy – policy-making informed by the best strategic thinkers in the country.

Which does not mean leaving it to Canberra. Universities need to pay their part. State and local government must reach out by thinking and working smart with the new information technologies.

We await the leadership of genuine innovation.