A big concern raised during questions is ABC's policies regarding possible conflicts of interest. With Chris Oliver-Taylor being quarantined from financial decisions in television as he moves to Matchbox productions as CEO.
Not to mention the controversy around ABC's "At Home with Julia".
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ABC - 18th October 2011
ABC managing director Mark Scott has defended budget cuts, the broadcaster's gay marriage coverage and a satirical television show about the Prime Minister during a Senate hearing.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon used the hearing to question Mr Scott about recent budget cuts within the ABC.
He referred to an internal memo sent to staff in New South Wales, which said some vacant positions would not be filled, and there would be more restrictions on overtime and travel.
Mr Scott said the organisation's news budget was under pressure due to several big events this year.
He said all state newsrooms were looking to save money.
"News is an expensive business," he said.
"News costs regularly kick ahead higher than CPI.
"Sometimes you get big news stories like some of the stories we've covered in the last year - that puts your costs under pressure and costs need to be brought back in."
Liberal Senator Eric Abetz quizzed Mr Scott over allegations of bias in the ABC's reporting of the debate over marriage laws.
Senator Abetz suggested ABC television news gave disproportionate coverage to a small same-sex marriage rally compared with a much larger event that was held in favour of maintaining the traditional definition of marriage.
He also raised concern about an episode of ABC TV's Compass program that dealt with the issue.
Mr Scott acknowledged the Senator's concerns, but said the ABC does not take sides.
"The ABC doesn't have a point of view, Senator," he said.
"I didn't see the program and I can't speak in any great detail on it.
"But I would suggest... the critical test is - are the arguments coming through in that conversation?"
Mr Scott also defended the ABC's decision to televise a satirical program about the Prime Minister.
The series, At Home With Julia, prompted strong criticism from some Federal MPs.
One episode showed actors playing Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson naked, and draped in the Australian flag, on the floor of the PM's office.
Labor Senator Lisa Singh used the hearing to tell Mr Scott the program was completely crass.
But Mr Scott said the show followed in the ABC's tradition of political satire.
"We were aware that it was a modern political satire and we appreciated that some of our audience would like it and some of our audience wouldn't and that's what the upshot of the program was," he said.
"I note that you didn't, but many did Senator."
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The Australian - 19th October 2011
THE ABC's commissioning editor for children's content, Carla de Jong, was granted permission to live in Canada for "personal reasons", the managing director of the ABC Mark Scott said yesterday.
The head of commissioning and development for ABC children’s television since 2008, de Jong recently met and married a Canadian TV producer and applied to stay in Toronto with her new husband.
The Australian understands her husband could not join her in Australia for personal reasons so she wanted to stay with him in Toronto.
“She has proven to be a very valuable staff member to us, critical to the establishment of our children's network, and for personal reasons she needed to relocate there for a period of time and we have taken advantage of technology to enable that to happen,” Mr Scott told a senate estimates committee yesterday.
In her role de Jong is responsible for overseeing all production, development and commissioning of original content for all ages across ABC1, ABC2 and ABC3.
The Australian understands her husband could not join her in Australia for personal reasons so she wanted to stay with him in Toronto.
“She has proven to be a very valuable staff member to us, critical to the establishment of our children's network, and for personal reasons she needed to relocate there for a period of time and we have taken advantage of technology to enable that to happen,” Mr Scott told a senate estimates committee yesterday.
In her role de Jong is responsible for overseeing all production, development and commissioning of original content for all ages across ABC1, ABC2 and ABC3.
In an email sent by de Jong to her ABC colleagues on March 1 she said: “For many of you who work with me remotely already, this will not be a great change and I will be returning to Australia when necessary for meetings and events.”
Children’s producers have found dealing with de Jong at a distance very trying, sources told The Australian. “She’s a nice woman but it has been a nightmare coping with the different time zones and the lack of access,” one producer said.
But Mr Scott defended the decision to allow her to work from another country rather than replacing her and said it was only temporary .
“We had to make a decision about whether we believed she was a valuable employee with skills that we were keen to keep; and, with the capacity of using technology like video-conferencing to enable us to utilise her effectively, that is what we are currently doing,” he said.
In August Ms de Jong commissioned a $14 million live action children’s series with Canada’s Shaftesbury Films and Australia’s Persistence Productions.
The series started shooting in September in South Australia.
At the senate committee hearing, Mr Scott was also asked about the recent resignation of the head of television business Chris Oliver-Taylor.
The Australian revealed Mr Oliver-Taylor had been quarantined from financial negotiation since he resigned to join Matchbox Pictures, a key producer of programs for the ABC, but remained on board until November.
“We do face competition for our best people from commercial networks, from other broadcasters and from independent production firms,” Mr Scott said.
“I must say, though, that he has had really very limited involvement with Matchbox in his role at the ABC. He has not been involved in budgeting or deal negotiation with them around any projects, and he certainly has no involvement with [Matchbox] as he serves out his notice period for us.”
Children’s producers have found dealing with de Jong at a distance very trying, sources told The Australian. “She’s a nice woman but it has been a nightmare coping with the different time zones and the lack of access,” one producer said.
But Mr Scott defended the decision to allow her to work from another country rather than replacing her and said it was only temporary .
“We had to make a decision about whether we believed she was a valuable employee with skills that we were keen to keep; and, with the capacity of using technology like video-conferencing to enable us to utilise her effectively, that is what we are currently doing,” he said.
In August Ms de Jong commissioned a $14 million live action children’s series with Canada’s Shaftesbury Films and Australia’s Persistence Productions.
The series started shooting in September in South Australia.
At the senate committee hearing, Mr Scott was also asked about the recent resignation of the head of television business Chris Oliver-Taylor.
The Australian revealed Mr Oliver-Taylor had been quarantined from financial negotiation since he resigned to join Matchbox Pictures, a key producer of programs for the ABC, but remained on board until November.
“We do face competition for our best people from commercial networks, from other broadcasters and from independent production firms,” Mr Scott said.
“I must say, though, that he has had really very limited involvement with Matchbox in his role at the ABC. He has not been involved in budgeting or deal negotiation with them around any projects, and he certainly has no involvement with [Matchbox] as he serves out his notice period for us.”
