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Credit: Illustration: Cathy Wilcox
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THE ABC
Seeking a news balance to win back viewers
Has the management of the ABC become so dumbed down that it now wishes to dumb down the rest of us? Or should I say, those who have intellectual inquisitiveness for world affairs. Sacking political editor Andrew Probyn is an outrage. In his place we are no doubt going to fed ideologies without rational challenge and agendas of the fringes, the feeble and uncivilised.
Regional news is apparently under threat as well, an example being the intended centralised Sunday news bulletin. That is grossly unfair for large numbers of diverse communities.
Everyone understands the challenge of the drop-off in news adherents, mainly it seems as a consequence of the emphasis on negative and depressing news. Surely there is enough talent in the ABC to find a balance with uplifting news content to win back viewers. If this emasculation of the ABC continues, history will condemn the current management.
I congratulate Michael Rowland, Lisa Millar, Tamara Oudyn, Mary Gearin, their respective colleagues and teams for the work they do. That also applies to the other teams on ABC24 at other times. Leave them alone.
Ron Luhrs, Tamboon
We need a fearless, accurate and accountable ABC
The provision of “personalised service that enables audiences to more easily discover content that is relevant to them” is a long-winded way of describing the silos and echo chambers which social media is already doing a sterling job of providing. We only need to understand what is fuelling Donald Trump’s America et al to know how beneficial that is as a mission statement.
The ABC board needs to wake up and realise that without a fearless, accurate and accountable public media, which does not attempt to pander to the shortest of attention spans, this will not end well for either ABC or non-ABC listeners. Bring back political editor Andrew Probyn, and think about our country’s future.
Cat Glover, Highton
Forty years on, we are paying the price for changes
The 1980s upheavals at the ABC brought much-vaunted promises of fresh “relevance” and “accessibility”, accompanied by fierce denials that these presaged a “dumbing down”. So the chickens are coming home. Labels are starting to stick: fusty, woke, cheesy, vacuous. Very few plums. Why not just blame the audience?
Huw Evans, Mount Irvine, NSW
The secret plan to drive us to other media services
I depend on the ABC for information and entertainment but I am becoming disillusioned with its programming. I enjoy Vera but I have become bored with watching it over and over again. It is making me seek programs elsewhere. Is this the aim of the ABC management?
Susanne Rickard, Rosanna
A move to mediocrity and cheap sensationalism
Who would have thought the dumbing down of the national broadcaster would occur while a Labor government was in power? Unexplainable decisions such as Andrew Probyn being made redundant and cuts to the arts program show how out of touch management is with its viewers.
Recently, a typical Saturday evening news broadcast spent 20minutes on extended sports replays, an antique fair in Canberra and an uninformative weather summary. As a long-time supporter of the ABC, I grieve that this once national treasure is being lost to mediocrity and cheap sensational stories very similar to those on the commercial networks.
Edward Farbrother, Hughesdale
The power of the critics to damage the ABC
It seem that all those who complained the ABC was too biased have had their wish fulfilled to mute Aunty’s news. Abolishing the position of political editor is likely to reduce the critical analysis of news. Perhaps the ABC management listened to its critics and decided to opt for safety and dullness.
Jan Bijlstra, Mount Waverley
THE FORUM
Leaders’ shameful silence
In Victoria, 113 deaths from COVID-19 in a week (Sunday Age, 18/6) and not a squeak from our politicians. No press conference to encourage mask wearing especially in crowded, indoor places and public transport, to explain that if it is six months since your last vaccination or infection you should have another vaccination, and no encouragement to have HEPA filters in indoor spaces.
The lowest death rate for Victoria in the last 12 months was about 20 per week in late January. Up to 10per cent of those infected get long COVID even with mild disease. Most deaths occur in the elderly. If the preventive measures were repeatedly encouraged, the death rate might be halved. These preventable deaths are the responsibility of our politicians who refuse to lead. Their policy is ageist. Old people don’t matter. The behaviour of our leaders is morally indefensible.
Dr Tim Woodruff, Richmond
A city shade screen
The heart of a city can appear inhospitable to gardeners but growing plants on nothing but thin air has appeal, especially when they are attractive, provide shade and combat pollution, arguably, right where it is needed. Incredibly, this has been done on the 92nd floor of the Eureka Tower and now on the roof of a 10-storey city building (Life, 16/6).
Global heating, with its multiplier effect, hits cities especially hard: they often act like heat banks. Much credit to the City of Melbourne which has shown innovation over many years and continues to lead the way in supporting such projects as the living screen. It’s nice to know that we can apply the same techniques in our own gardens.
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
Short trips’ added bonus
Sue Williams reports economic reasons for Australians eschewing European holidays (Sunday Age, 18/6). One positive outcome, similar to what happened during COVID-19 border closures, is that fewer transcontinental flights means cut carbon dioxide emissions. Maybe, in future, more thoughtful travellers will increasingly take shorter trips for environmental reasons.
Andrew Smith, Leongatha
For many, an unfair go
I am in despair about the direction our country has taken. How did we come to accept the increasing disparity of wealth that allows excessive company profits, and larger executive salaries, but also greater numbers of homeless and as Marcus Godinho, CEO of Fareshare, points out, 2million Australian households experiencing “severe food insecurity” (Comment, 15/6)? So much for the lucky country, which purports to give everyone a fair go.
Rita Thorpe, Coburg
The haves and have-nots
What a sad indictment on society when people cannot afford to feed their families. Have we not learnt anything since the 1930s when people tried to survive on bread and potatoes? It seems that little has changed. In a country where we throw out tonnes of food, the imbalance is getting worse. Thank goodness we have food banks but that is not good enough. People feel inadequate if they cannot feed their families. Food and shelter are basic human rights. Where are we heading in this affluent country if so many are left wanting?
Nola Cormick, Albert Park
Supporting the needy
Will those who argue that there is no need for the Voice because we are all equal apply the same logic to food inequality and argue the hungry need no extra support?
Julia Thornton, Surrey Hills
The eternal question
When the government implements the referendum regarding the Indigenous Voice to parliament, it would be a good economy of scale, and use of taxpayers’ money, to include one other question that has been raising its head every year – “Should Australia Day remain on January 26?” It is related to the Voice and maybe we can finally stop bringing it up every year.
Pieter van Wessem, Balwyn
Why we need to vote Yes
Only four areas of Closing the Gap are on track to meet their targets by 2031. It is obviously time for a different approach. We should surely vote Yes at the Voice referendum so that Indigenous communities are directly consulted on things that affect them, including housing, health, education and jobs.
Indigenous Australians have a low life expectancy, high incarceration rates, a high number of deaths in custody and have had their land and children stolen from them since colonisation. It is difficult to understand how there could possibly be a No campaign for the upcoming referendum.
Jen Hooper, Box Hill
Problems with the House
Re the report about how the design of Parliament House in Canberra – “long corridors with no windows and in stairwells hidden from view where there are no cameras” – has created an unsafe environment for women (The Age, 16/6). Another design defect is that unlike the previous Parliament House, it does not allow for ease of contact between MPs and the people they represent. While the external building form is dramatic, its overall design is a case of form not following function.
David Beauchamp, Aireys Inlet
Cricket’s purest form
As a long-suffering England supporter, I am delighted with this team’s gung ho approach in the first Ashes Test. It has provided three days of exciting cricket instead of the usual dinosaur caution. With all the competition from other forms such as T20, Test cricket seems in real danger of disappearing but I think this fresh, vigorous approach will revive interest in what is the pure form of the game.
Lesley Black, Frankston
A very unfair advantage
How can England waste so much time changing the field between and during overs and keep up the over rate? The umpires never appear to intervene and no meaningful penalty is applied against England.
Keith Robinson, Glen Waverley
Why punctuation matters
Yes, full marks to Ivan Glynn (Letters, 18/6) for pointing out the importance of punctuation. At the business college where I was taught typing, punctuation was an important part of the training. I eventually landed a job at a radio station typing copy for the announcers. Just imagine the confusion on their behalf if my punctuation had not been correct.
Cecily Falkingham, Donvale
The forgotten sacrifices
Thank you for revisiting The Age’s June 15, 1942, report on the issuing of wartime ration books (Letters, 19/6). It brought back many memories for me as a child during and post-World War II. I would be sent off to the local grocer with the ration book in my pocket with strict instructions – “Whatever you do, don’t lose that book”.
They were difficult times and sometimes I feel that successive generations haven’t fully understood the contribution people of that generation made.
Much is made of the Baby Boomers’ contribution to society but I never read about the Greatest Generation (1901-1924) or my generation, the Silent Generation (1925-1945, when children were told to be seen but not heard). The Boomers and successive generations owe a lot to the Silent Generation. I look forward to more archive stories.
John Cummings, Anglesea
Adding up the costs
Grattan Institute climate change and energy program director Tony Wood says it will cost “a lazy $4000 to $5000” to switch from gas to electric appliances (The Age, 19/6). Wrong. When I began the process of building a new house, the difference in price between an all-electric house and one with a gas cooktop was $7200. Looking at that same company’s website today, the all-electric house is $9000 dearer. A lazy $4000 to $5000? No, it’s a hard-earned $9000.
Julie Moffat, St Leonards
Focus on public transport
Patrick Hatch’s article (The Age, 17/7) detailing non-accessibility of much of the tram network highlights the Victorian government’s skewed transport priorities. Funding for its Big Build, especially the Suburban Rail Loop, dominated the recent state budget. Melbourne’s trams remain Australia’s only significant public transport which fails to meet mandatory Disability Discrimination Act requirements. Important railway stations – eg, Richmond, Newport, Caulfield – also fail compliance.
Caulfield will become a major interchange when the Metro Tunnel opens. Its steep ramps, uninviting subway and inconvenient layout say much about genuine concern for passengers. Its full upgrade cost would be small compared with removal of two nearby level crossings at Glen Huntly.
Absence of integrated public transport planning is also apparent at Arden station, also opening with Metro Tunnel. It will lack nearby trams or buses for passengers to continue their journeys, unlike the other new Metro stations. Rail Futures has long proposed tram extensions into the Arden precinct, so far to no avail. Likewise for trams to the Fishermans Bend precinct.
John Hearsch, Rail Futures Institute
We must assist Ukraine
It is risible for the defence force to veto the supply of Hawkei vehicles which Ukraine has been asking for since September (The Age, 17/6).
Our only perceivable conflict will involve China. As our defences are in a hopeless state of unpreparedness due to three terms of Coalition ineptitude, we should surrender rather than waste lives. The Hawkeis will not save us from China. Only the US navy and air force can do that.
The Ukrainians are fighting for their lives against a brutal and totalitarian enemy. We should do the utmost to assist them.
Paul Everingham, Hamilton
Same old, same old
Re the Greens and housing: Here we go again …
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
ABC
I too am flabbergasted at the axing of Probyn. Budget cuts notwithstanding, it seems a poor decision.
Ros Shennan, Mentone
Is “invisible” Ita Buttrose still in charge of the ABC? If so, will she reverse the board’s bizarre decision to sack Andrew Probyn?
Peter Buxton, Somers
This redundancy needs some probin’.
Phil Labrum, Trentham
Come on, Albo. Sort out the ABC, starting right at the top. A good news service is essential for all of us.
Ross Hosking, Blackwood, SA
The political and media conservatives appear to be winning in their attempts to dismantle the ABC – aided by a dose of self-destruction.
Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale
ABC, thanks for the third rerun of Vera. Is the programming department already redundant?
George Reed, Wheelers Hill
Politics
How can an indicted or convicted felon run for president, let alone become president?
Pete Sands, Monbulk
Trump: “I’m gonna build the biggest wall you’ve ever seen, then I’ll put myself behind it”.
Ian Cameron, Chelsea
Scrapping the housing program for Indigenous renters is a “voice” from the Victorian government going in the wrong direction.
Jerry Koliha, South Melbourne
The Liberals have ejected David Van, but some want Moira Deeming reinstated. One step forward, three steps back.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
The Libs are in deep yoghurt without a paddle, no life jacket and definitely no compass.
Danny Hampel, Caulfield North
Furthermore
Ban the wrap tackle and allow only hold tackles. This will help to reduce concussion incidents and lead to a more open game not plagued by ball-ups.
Dick Danckert, Torquay
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