ABC management "intrusive"

Moves by the management of the ABC to register the political 
"affiliations" or "relationships" of staff are being challenged 
by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU). The national 
broadcaster is demanding that radio division employees supply the 
information in annual performance reviews. Apparently the process 
began at the time Senator Richard Alston, then Federal 
Communications Minister, made allegations of political bias 
against the ABC.

CPSU ABC Section Secretary, Graeme Thomson, has written to 
managing director, Russell Balding, demanding that the 
organisation "cease and desist".

"The initiative is, in the eyes of the CPSU naive, ill-considered 
and intrusive", Mr Thomson wrote.

"If the corporation has reason to believe an employee is acting 
improperly because they are allowing personal beliefs to 
interfere with their work, then that failure should be measured 
against the editorial policies. If their programs demonstrate 
bias, then they should be busted for improper conduct."

Thomson said the union had moved on the basis of strong 
membership reaction against the demand for political information.

"I am advising our people to write NOYB (none of your business) 
in that section of the disclosure form", he said.

"Whether or not you are a member of a political party is not the 
issue. The issue, for a broadcaster, ABC or commercial, is, does 
it affect your work?" 

BTN returns

Meanwhile, ABC staff are welcoming the return of iconic 
children's current affairs program, Behind the News. The 
ABC announced the week before last that Behind the News 
would again be produced from its Adelaide studios. 

ABC employees were joined by teachers, principals, parents and 
school children in a concerted demand for the return of the 
program, axed last year for "budget reasons".

South Australian union shop floor representative, Martin Goodwin, 
thanked the community for rallying behind the program.

"Without that groundswell of support BTN would not have got back 
on air. I hope ABC management will learn not to be so dismissive 
of their audiences", Mr Goodwin said.

"It is hard to think of another program on the ABC, for this age 
group, that would better fit the description of core charter 
programming."