History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Company type	Statutory authority
Industry	Broadcasting, Media
Predecessor	Australian Broadcasting Company, National Broadcasting Service
Founded	July 1, 1932 (1932-07-01)
Headquarters	Sydney , Australia
Area served	Australia
Key people	Sir Charles Moses (General Manager 1935–1965), Dick Boyer (Chairman 1945–1961)
Products	Radio, Television, Online media
Owner	Australian Government
Website	abc.net.au

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation traces its origins to a radio station licensing system managed by the Postmaster-General's Department beginning in 1923, gradually developing into a nationwide provider of content across radio, television, and new media. Starting in 1928, the National Broadcasting Service assumed control of 12 radio licences, operating as a national broadcaster, while programming was provided by the Australian Broadcasting Company, a private entity founded in 1924.

Formed on 1 July 1932 through the Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932, the Australian Broadcasting Commission was financed by the Australian Government. Its statutory authority expanded during and after World War II, enhancing its editorial independence and news operations. Legislation from July 1946 mandated the broadcaster to transmit parliamentary sessions and broaden its news coverage.

A national television service commenced in November 1956, with ABC establishing international news bureaus throughout the 1960s and 1970s. During this era, ABC TV showcased prominent music shows including Six O'Clock Rock and Countdown.

The organisation was renamed from "Australian Broadcasting Commission" to "Australian Broadcasting Corporation" under the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, effective from 1 July 1983. In 1995, the ABC Multimedia Unit was launched to oversee its online presence.

Background

Australia’s inaugural public radio station began broadcasting in Sydney on 23 November 1923 under the call sign 2SB (later 2BL), soon followed by stations in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart. The Postmaster-General's Department administered a licensing framework that provided government funding while restricting advertising.

In 1924, stations were categorized as A-Class or B-Class: A-Class stations were government-supported mainly through listener license fees with limited advertising permitted; B-Class stations operated without government funding but had fewer advertising constraints.

Following a 1927 Royal Commission recommendation to consolidate radio licence fees for financing larger A-Class stations, the government created the National Broadcasting Service between 1928 and 1930 to assume control of twelve A-Class licences upon expiry, acquiring transmitters and studios. Advertising was excluded from legislation prior to implementation. Concurrently, programming was contracted out to the Australian Broadcasting Company, a private company founded in 1924.

Initially overseen by the Postmaster-General’s Department—which also managed postal and telephone services—the National Broadcasting Service encountered some political resistance regarding this administrative structure.

Establishment of the ABC

The Australian Broadcasting Commission Act 1932 established the Australian Broadcasting Commission on 1 July 1932 to replace the Australian Broadcasting Company and manage the National Broadcasting Service. Modeled after the BBC, its primary funding came from listener licence fees supplemented by government grants.

At its inception, ABC operated twelve radio stations in major urban centres, laying the groundwork for what would become ABC Local Radio and Radio National networks:

• 2FC Sydney
• 2BL Sydney
• 3AR Melbourne
• 3LO Melbourne
• 4QG Brisbane
• 5CL Adelaide
• 6WF Perth
• 7ZL Hobart
• 2NC Newcastle
• 2CO Corowa (Albury)
• 4RK Rockhampton
• 5CK Crystal Brook

The organisation was governed by a board of five commissioners appointed by the Governor-General; among them were designated chairperson and vice-chairperson roles. The board selected a General Manager who was not part of the commission. In 1932, international broadcaster Radio Australia became part of ABC.

Programming initially encompassed children’s shows, sports coverage, London news bulletins, weather forecasts, stock market reports, and cultural lectures. Sir Bernard Heinze joined in 1934 as part-time musical adviser, and in 1937 Brisbane’s station 4BC was acquired, expanding network reach. The ABC also introduced ABC Weekly, which promoted radio and later television programming.

Over four years, individual stations were unified into an integrated network with centralized management. The radio spectrum included both ABC and commercial broadcasters. Programming genres comprised music, news, current affairs, sports, drama, religious content, education, and school broadcasts. Live transmissions predominated until disc-based recording technology was adopted in 1935. The ABC also formed state orchestras along with choruses and dance bands.

Among early innovations were "synthetic" cricket broadcasts that recreated matches from England using cables and sound effects. Between 1936 and 1938, all thirty-eight Shakespeare plays were presented live on air. Local drama competitions encouraged Australian playwrights. Broadcasts featured speeches from notable figures such as King George V, Pope Pius XI, British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, Adolf Hitler, and H.G. Wells.

By 1933, regular relay connections linked Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth; Hobart was connected via Bass Strait cable in 1936. Initially relying on local news bulletins until its first journalist was hired in 1934, ABC appointed a Federal News Editor in 1936 and established a Canberra correspondent position in 1939 to cover federal politics.

In November 1935, Sir Charles Moses assumed the role of General Manager at age thirty-five and maintained this position until retiring in 1965.

Early news broadcasts experienced limitations influenced by Sir Keith Murdoch’s newspaper interests; however journalists such as Frank Dixon and John Hinde contested these restrictions during the late 1930s. In 1939 Warren Denning became ABC’s inaugural political correspondent in Canberra after Murdoch prevented newspaper coverage of Prime Minister Joseph Lyons’ address.

World War II

Throughout World War II, the ABC increased its recruitment efforts, significantly expanding its female workforce to fill positions left vacant by men serving in the military. In 1941, Margaret Doyle made history as the first woman to serve as an announcer on Australian national radio. The corporation also set up overseas correspondent offices in the Middle East, Greece, and various locations across the Asia-Pacific region. Although wartime censorship briefly placed control of the 7pm national news bulletin under the Department of Information in June 1940, public demand led to the restoration of ABC’s autonomous news reporting by September of that year.

In 1940, influential board member Dick Boyer joined the ABC and was appointed chairman in 1945. Boyer, who later initiated the renowned Boyer Lectures in 1959, maintained a professional partnership with General Manager Sir Charles Moses until his retirement in 1961.

During the war, ABC news bulletins established greater credibility and editorial independence, airing three times daily from 1942 on both national and commercial transmitters. The statutory authority granted during and after the conflict strengthened ABC’s autonomy in news production and expanded its capacity for newsgathering.

On 7 January 1941, the ABC reintroduced the Children's Session nationwide, featuring the beloved "Argonauts Club". By 1950, this program had amassed over 50,000 members and actively encouraged creative participation from children. It aired six days a week for nearly three decades.

The Australian Broadcasting Act 1942 gave ABC regulatory control over political broadcasts, requiring ministerial directives to be documented and published annually; this authority was exercised only once, in 1963. That same year marked the debut of "Kindergarten of the Air" on ABC Radio Perth, a program that later expanded nationally and became a flagship offering. The legislation also mandated female membership among commissioners.

Chairman Boyer successfully obtained Prime Minister John Curtin's public acknowledgment in 1945 of the ABC's "special independence of judgement and action," thereby protecting it from political interference.

Post-war

December 1945 saw the launch of The Country Hour, a rural and regional program that strengthened ABC’s coverage of agricultural issues through journalists and "extension officers" stationed in key country regions. Enhanced access to landline and teleprinter technology improved news collection efficiency, allowing up to thirteen national news bulletins to be broadcast daily.

The Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act of 1946 required live coverage of parliamentary sessions, beginning with Question Time on 10 July that year. These broadcasts were incorporated into the interstate network despite programming challenges noted by the Commission in its annual reports. The ABC was also tasked with sourcing domestic news via its own staff and international news through agencies and correspondents; this led to the formal establishment of the news department on 1 June 1947.

Prime Minister Ben Chifley committed to implementing television services nationwide. In 1948, ABC funding transitioned from license fees to government appropriations, with the number of commissioners rising to seven—two of whom were public servants from Treasury and the Postmaster-General's Department. Despite these structural changes, Boyer preserved ABC’s editorial independence. The requirement for public servant commissioners was later removed under the Broadcasting and Television Act 1956, though the seven-commissioner format persisted to guarantee representation from states and territories.

Post-war programming reforms shifted serious content such as news, current affairs, and early documentaries to the national network while metropolitan stations focused on lighter entertainment. The Light Entertainment division produced programs including ABC Hit Parade, the Wilfrid Thomas Show, Bob Dyer's Dude Ranch, and The Village Glee Club.

By 1956, ABC maintained international offices in London, New York, Port Moresby, and had recently established a bureau in Singapore.

The television era: 1956

The federal Television Act of 1953 laid the foundation for regulatory oversight of both the ABC and commercial television networks. During the subsequent three years, ABC acquired sites for studios and transmitters in Sydney and Melbourne, while also bringing in international specialists to support staff training.

Australia’s inaugural national public television channel commenced broadcasting in Sydney at 7:00pm on 5 November 1956 under the call sign ABN-2. The launch event, officiated by Prime Minister Robert Menzies, featured presenter Michael Charlton alongside newsreader James Dibble. Melbourne’s ABV-2 followed shortly after, launching on 18 November 1956. Additional capital city stations were established between 1959 and 1971, including ABQ-2 in Brisbane, ABS-2 in Adelaide, ABW-2 in Perth, ABT-2 in Hobart, ABC-3 in Canberra, and ABD-6 in Darwin.

At the outset, there were no television relay systems, necessitating separate preparation of news bulletins in each city via teleprinter, with filmed materials duplicated manually for distribution.

On 29 January 1958, a purpose-built television studio opened in Sydney, replacing earlier temporary sound facilities. That same year marked the relocation of technical equipment to permanent sites, with main transmitters installed in Melbourne (1957) and Sydney (1958).

1960s and 1970s

The current affairs program Four Corners debuted in 1961, accompanied by Profiles of Power, a series featuring interviews with notable Australian figures. That year also introduced direct relay connections among Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, replacing provisional microwave links and enabling simultaneous broadcasts across these cities. By 1962, videotape machines were operational in every state capital, significantly accelerating footage sharing.

ABC was an early pioneer of rock'n'roll programming on television, notably through Six O'Clock Rock, hosted by Johnny O'Keefe. Throughout the 1960s and into the early 1970s, ABC produced music shows such as Hitscene, specials spotlighting bands like Tully and Max Merritt & The Meteors, as well as the magazine-format series GTK, which aired four evenings weekly at 6:30pm.

While many videotaped recordings from this era were erased during a late-1970s cost-saving initiative, archival investigations following the closure of Sydney's Gore Hill studios revealed that most original footage had been captured on film and preserved.

In 1963, ABC hosted an internal competition to design a new logo; Bill Kennard’s oscilloscope waveform concept was officially adopted on 1 May 1964.

The weeknight current affairs show This Day Tonight premiered in 1967 alongside its radio equivalent PM. During this period, ABC also prioritized talk programs on radio and TV addressing domestic and international topics, including The Science Show from 1975 with host Robyn Williams, as well as the women-focused The Coming Out Show, which began that same year.

Expansion of ABC’s international news presence occurred during this era with bureau openings in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur (1964), followed by offices in New Delhi and Tokyo (1966), Washington (1967), and Bangkok (1972). Radio Australia provided special news bulletins to Australian and New Zealand troops during the Vietnam War period, supported by a team of twenty correspondents from 1965 to 1972.

Governance reforms included increasing commissioners to nine members in 1967. The Whitlam administration introduced a staff-elected commissioner position in 1975; however, this role was later abolished under the Fraser government. A legislative amendment in 1976 expanded commissioners to eleven seats, requiring state representation along with two female members.

Colour broadcasting was introduced nationally in 1975; over the next decade ABC adopted satellite technology to improve distribution of content across Australia. That same year saw the launch of Sydney’s around-the-clock AM rock station 2JJ (Double Jay) which eventually evolved into the national Triple J FM network. In 1976, ABC launched a classical music FM service initially branded as ABC-FM.

In sports coverage, ABC secured rugby league’s first television broadcast rights in 1973 following negotiations led by Kevin Humphreys. The inaugural ABC Shop opened its doors in 1974.

From 1976 onwards, budget reductions began affecting ABC operations through to 1985. In response to funding cuts and concerns about political interference, the ABC NSW Staff Association organized a strike in 1978 that resulted in Sydney’s ABC going off air for four days. A complimentary concert at Sydney’s Regent Theatre featured performers such as Fred Dagg and Robyn Archer. Reflecting on this challenging period in a 1991 statement, Tom Molomby described how budget constraints had been "poorly managed," leaving the broadcaster "seriously weakened for years."

1980s

In 1981, ABC Radio commenced airing content focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Alice Springs and Northern Queensland, while also broadening its range of comedy, social history, news, and current affairs programming.

Sir Talbot Duckmanton stepped down as general manager in 1982, the same year ABC acted as the host broadcaster for the Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane. This year also celebrated the organisation's fiftieth year of operation.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 officially changed the entity's name from the "Australian Broadcasting Commission" to the "Australian Broadcasting Corporation," effective from 1 July 1983. This legislative update led to substantial organisational changes: Indigenous affairs, comedy, social history, and current affairs productions were expanded, alongside an increase in drama content. Between 1986 and 1991, local production output tripled through strategies such as co-production, co-financing, and pre-sale agreements.

The corporation separated its television and radio divisions, accompanied by comprehensive reforms in management, finance, property, and engineering departments. Geoffrey Whitehead held the position of managing director until 1986, when David Hill succeeded him.

In 1983, ABC-TV introduced teletext services to offer closed captioning for viewers with hearing impairments. The national news program The National replaced Nationwide but was eventually discontinued due to negative feedback; the network then returned to state-based ABC News bulletins followed by The 7.30 Report. During this era, new shows such as Lateline and Media Watch were launched.

Following new board directives in 1984 aimed at increasing Australian content during prime time on ABC-TV, several successful programs emerged including The Investigators, Quantum, Bush Tucker Man, The D Generation, Australia You're Standing In It, The Big Gig, and the enduring music program Rage.

A concert music division was created in 1985 to oversee the corporation’s six symphony orchestras, providing them with greater independence to address regional demands. This included initiatives like outdoor concerts, touring performances, educational projects, and partnerships with other musical organisations to broaden audience engagement.

ABC Radio experienced significant restructuring in 1985: ABC Radio 1 was renamed the Metropolitan Network; ABC Radio 2 became Radio National. New programs introduced at this time included The World Today, Australia All Over, and The Coodabeen Champions. In 1989, ABC Classic FM established an Australian Music Unit. Meanwhile, Radio Australia shifted its focus toward the Asia-Pacific region with enhanced news coverage during major events such as the 1987 Fijian coups, the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and the early 1990s Gulf War.

The Second Regional Radio Network project launched in 1987 resulted in the creation of 19 new regional studios (alongside upgrades) and approximately 300 additional transmitters, expanding Radio National and ABC-FM broadcasts into these communities.

In August 1988, under the National Metropolitan Radio Plan, the Parliamentary Broadcast Network (PBN) was established to provide compulsory parliamentary broadcasts on AM transmitters located in state capitals as well as Newcastle and Canberra.

1990s

Throughout the 1990s, ABC expanded its retail presence by increasing the number of ABC shops, which offered merchandise tied to its programming such as books, CDs, and DVDs. This era also marked the debut of ABC Online, designed to enhance the broadcasting experience with features like transcripts, podcasts, and supplementary materials. Triple J broadened its broadcast reach to include all state capitals as well as Darwin, Canberra, and Newcastle.

Following pressures from the previous decade, ABC divested its orchestras in 1990, leading to the creation of Symphony Australia, which coordinated the now autonomous state orchestras that remained under ABC ownership. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra was corporatised in 1996 under Sydney Symphony Orchestra Holdings Pty Ltd.

The ABC Southbank Centre was inaugurated in Melbourne in 1994, serving as the base for Victoria’s radio operations alongside the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

In July 1995, the ABC Multimedia Unit was founded to oversee the newly launched ABC website (August 1995). That same year marked the beginning of dedicated funding for digital content. The first online election coverage appeared in 1996, featuring news updates, electorate maps, candidate profiles, and real-time results.

By the early 1990s, ABC’s primary outlets operated around the clock; regional radio expanded with the addition of 80 transmitters. Live parliamentary broadcasts commenced in 1990. The Parliamentary and News Network (PNN), which later evolved into ABC NewsRadio, was introduced in August 1994 providing continuous news and extended to Darwin by 1996 to cover all capital cities.

Trials of digital radio employing the Eureka 147 standard began alongside upgrades to fully digitised systems for program playout, storage solutions, and news-specific word processing.

On an international front, Australia Television International was launched in 1993 while Radio Australia extended its reach despite facing funding cuts in 1997.

ABC-FM rebranded as ABC Classic FM in 1994 accompanied by significant programming shifts. In 1995, ABC Radio’s D-Cart digital technology attracted international attention and was commercialized across Europe, North America, and Asia; meanwhile, ABC implemented D-Radio—the first fully digital audio system—on Triple J.

Australia Television was sold to the Seven Network in 1998 but continued broadcasting ABC news and current affairs programs until it ceased operations in 2001.

2000s

The centenary of the Federation of Australia in 2001 was commemorated with extensive programming initiatives. That year also witnessed the introduction of digital television, following four years of preparation; ABC completed a full transition to digital production, post-production, and transmission facilities—an advancement considered as significant as the introduction of colour TV. Early widescreen productions included drama series such as Something in the Air, Grass Roots, and In the Mind of the Architect.

ABC's Multimedia division was rebranded as 'ABC New Media', establishing itself as a central output alongside Television and Radio. Legislation permitted ABC to operate 'multichannels'—digital-only TV services managed by New Media. Following digital TV's launch in 2001, channels like Fly TV and ABC Kids channel were introduced targeting teenage and children audiences respectively. The division also experimented with interactive television on the Optus Television platform.

In July 2002, ABC marked its 70th anniversary unveiling a new logo along with three television idents featuring a silver ring morphing into the iconic ABC logo.

Also in 2002, ABC launched ABC Asia Pacific, succeeding the defunct Australia Television channel. This service aimed at viewers throughout the Asia-Pacific region alongside its radio counterpart, Radio Australia. However, funding reductions in 2003 led to the closure of Fly TV and the ABC Kids Channel.

Upgrades were made to ABC Radio studios and transmitters during this period, drawing large audiences for its non-commercial coverage of the 2000 Summer Olympics. All networks celebrated one hundred years of radio broadcasting in 2001 with special programming and a limited edition CD compiling highlights since 1932.

ABC NewsRadio expanded its online news offerings and pioneered live streaming of parliamentary sessions starting in 2002. The network also extended its coverage area to include the Gold Coast, marking its first expansion since five years prior. In November 2002, ABC launched digital radio service ABC DiG, accessible via Internet streaming and digital television; terrestrial DAB+ broadcasts commenced in 2009.

In 2003, former Communications Minister Senator Richard Alston filed complaints regarding bias on ABC's AM program related to Iraq invasion coverage; seventeen complaints were upheld for partial bias but no evidence against Coalition perspectives was found. That year also saw ABC Sydney relocate from Gore Hill to a new facility in Ultimo built by Leighton Contractors.

ABC2, a second digital-only channel, debuted on 7 March 2005 with an annual budget of $3 million independent from government funding. Communications Minister Helen Coonan officially launched it at Parliament House. In October 2006, genre restrictions were removed allowing ABC2 to broadcast comedy, drama, news, sports, and entertainment content.

The updated history volume Whose ABC? The Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1983–2006 was published by Black Inc. in 2006 as a continuation of Ken Inglis's earlier work from 1983.

In 2006, under the Howard government’s reforms of the ABC board structure, the staff-elected director position was abolished—a decision criticized by opposition parties as punitive. Managing Director Mark Scott introduced new editorial guidelines in March 2007 aimed at ensuring diverse perspectives and transparent labeling of opinions within news and current affairs programming.

Due to a cluster of breast cancer cases among female employees at its Toowong offices, ABC shut down that location in December 2006 and redistributed operations throughout Brisbane. In August 2007, Mark Scott announced plans for new studio facilities after scientific assessments; staff eventually relocated to purpose-built premises at South Bank in January 2012.

Ahead of the 2007 Australian federal election, support from the Howard government enabled ABC’s proposal for a second digital channel dedicated to children. This channel—later known as ABC3—committed to featuring at least half Australian-made content. On 8 February 2008, ABC TV rebranded as ABC1, while funding for ABC3 was provided by the subsequent Rudd government in June.

The online video-on-demand platform ABC iview initially launched as ABC Playback in 2007 before being renamed in July 2008. It streams content from both ABC1 and ABC2 alongside news updates and previews available through ABC Shop, offering full-screen video via a Flash-based interface.

By 2009, both ABC3 and ABC News 24 had transitioned into dedicated digital channels.

2010s

On 22 July 2010, ABC launched ABC News, a dedicated channel broadcasting news around the clock. This marked the ABC's fifth domestic television channel and the fourth new addition within that decade.

ABC1 reverted to its former title, ABC TV, on 20 July 2014. Later that year in October, the broadcaster introduced "Mental As" week to promote mental health awareness during Mental Health Week.

In November 2014, a funding reduction spread over five years compelled the ABC to cut approximately 10% of its workforce, equating to around 400 employees. This resulted in programming adjustments, with a decrease in regional and local content in favor of more national shows. The Adelaide television production studio was largely closed except for news and current affairs operations. Additionally, several ABC websites were discontinued, along with state-based sports coverage and state editions of 7.30. To manage digital activities, a new Digital Network Division was established, accompanied by plans for a Regional Division.

Michelle Guthrie, formerly of BSkyB, Star TV, and Google, was appointed managing director in December 2015 and took over from Mark Scott in April 2016.

In 2016, ABC3 was rebranded as ABC ME. That same year, the ABC received significant journalism accolades for its investigative reporting on sexual abuse allegations within the Catholic Church, particularly concerning Cardinal George Pell’s testimony before the Royal Commission.

November 2016 saw the merging of ABC News 24 and ABC NewsRadio under the unified ABC News brand, which officially relaunched on 10 April 2017.

The refurbished Melbourne Arts Precinct facility in Southbank opened in August 2017, bringing together television and radio teams across four floors equipped with modern studios and production spaces. The iconic Studio 31, known as "The Dream Factory," was closed in November 2017 and succeeded by a cutting-edge studio at the Southbank ABC Centre.

From July 2017 to June 2018, the "Regional Connecting Communities" initiative funded an expansion of regional employment and resources dedicated to local news gathering and live broadcasts. During this period, an organizational restructuring dissolved separate Radio and Television divisions, replacing them with cross-platform functional teams: Entertainment & Specialist (covering comedy, children’s programming, drama, Indigenous content), Specialist (arts, science, religion), and Regional & Local.

In June 2018, the federal council of the Liberal Party passed a non-binding resolution advocating for ABC privatization; however, this decision was unlikely to affect government policy.

Around September 2018, Michelle Guthrie was removed from her role as managing director amid a leadership crisis sparked by accusations of political interference involving ABC Chair Justin Milne. Following mounting calls for his resignation due to allegations of editorial meddling, Milne stepped down on 27 September.

After a four-month vacancy in the chair position, Ita Buttrose was appointed in February 2019. She confirmed David Anderson as managing director in May of that year.

The ABC’s reporting on Cardinal Pell’s trials and subsequent acquittal between 2018 and 2020 drew criticism from notable Catholic figures and conservative commentators who alleged bias in coverage.

On 5 June 2019, Australian Federal Police conducted a raid on ABC headquarters seeking material related to the "Afghan Files," which revealed alleged misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. Warrants named journalists involved as well as news director Gaven Morris. The ABC challenged legal access to over 9,200 documents; however, the Federal Court upheld the validity of the warrants in February 2020. Charges against journalist Dan Oakes were later dropped that year. This raid, alongside a similar AFP search involving journalist Annika Smethurst, led to a Senate inquiry into press freedoms. The inquiry’s May 2021 report recommended reforms aimed at safeguarding public interest journalism and enhancing protections for whistleblowers.

2020s

In June 2020, the ABC revealed plans to eliminate 250 positions, reduce programming, and cut travel and production budgets following funding reductions imposed by the Morrison government after several years of indexation freezes. While television and radio services continued operating, additional transmission reductions were anticipated. Radio news output was diminished, ABC Life was renamed ABC Local, and a majority of personnel were relocated from Sydney.

During the same month, ABC TV's prominent Sunday current affairs show Insiders was criticized for lacking diversity, having never featured a non-white panelist until then. Subsequently, Indigenous Affairs editor Bridget Brennan became the program's first person of colour to appear on the panel.

In 2021, former Attorney-General Christian Porter initiated a defamation lawsuit against the ABC concerning an article about a historical rape allegation but withdrew the case in May.

By June 2021, ABC had formed a partnership with First Nations Media Australia to amplify Indigenous perspectives within Australian media as part of its "Elevate" Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). This initiative included an emphasis on Indigenous sports coverage via ABC Digital Radio. In November 2022, Suzanne Dredge was appointed as ABC’s inaugural Head of Indigenous News.

Also in June 2021, ABC announced plans to shift approximately 300 employees to new offices in Parramatta by 2025. This move aimed to reduce operational expenses and generate rental income from vacated Ultimo premises, helping to mitigate funding cuts experienced since 2014.

A January 2023 AM segment covering a youth crime meeting in Alice Springs attracted complaints alleging bias and associations with white supremacy. The Ombudsman upheld 19 complaints, determining breaches of impartiality standards had occurred; the story was subsequently re-edited with an editorial note acknowledging these mistakes. ABC executive David Anderson conceded procedural shortcomings during Senate Estimates hearings.

In April 2023, ABC encountered criticism—including from its own program Media Watch—for largely overlooking a news incident involving independent senator Lidia Thorpe outside a Melbourne strip club. While other media outlets reported promptly, ABC delayed coverage until several days later, following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s call for Thorpe to seek assistance.

In May 2023, ABC’s live broadcast of the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla drew backlash for beginning with a panel discussion critical of the monarchy rather than immediate coverage of the ceremony itself. The segment included commentators highlighting negative impacts of the monarchy on First Nations Australians, leading some viewers to threaten switching channels.

In 2024, ABC made a controversial decision to terminate journalist Antoinette Lattouf after she shared a Human Rights Watch post critical of Israel, following pressure from Lawyers for Israel.

See also

• ABC Digital Network Division (previously known as ABC Innovation)
• ABC Television
• History of ABC Radio (Australia)
• History of broadcasting in Australia
• Television broadcasting in Australia
• Television in Australia

Notes and references

Notes

References

Further reading

• Cater, Nick The Lucky Culture and the Rise of an Australian Ruling Class (2013), pp. 199–228
• Semmler, Clement. The ABC: Aunt Sally and Sacred Cow (1981)