[Greens-Media] Senate questions ABC axing of Religion Report

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Senate questions ABC axing of Religion Report

Canberra, Thursday, 16 October 2008

The Senate today supported a motion from Australian Greens Leader Bob
Brown that calls on ABC management to reveal the criticisms and reasons
behind the decision to axe the Religion Report, Media Report and other
flagship Radio National programs.

"The Religion Report's insightful reporting and critical analysis has
ruffled many feathers over the years - the sign of a highly successful
program!" Senator Brown said.

"Radio National's flagship programs, whose specialist reporters have a
great depth of knowledge, are what makes public broadcasting in this
country so strong. These programs have a growing audience here in
Australia, internationally, and online.

"The decision to cut these programs and dumb down Radio National needs
to be explained so that the growing audience of these programs
understands what ABC management is doing to their broadcaster."

The motion was agreed to by the Government and Opposition.

The text of the motion reads:
I move that the Senate:
(i) Notes ABC Radio National's decision to axe the Religion Report,
Media Report and the Sports Factor;
(ii) Notes that the Religion Report is one of the most important
programs on the ABC with a rapidly growing international audience;
(iii) Notes that this program broke the Peter Hollingworth scandal, has
applied critical analysis of the Exclusive Brethren, Anglican, Catholic
and Muslim religions amongst others and provided insightful commentary
of various religions over many years;
(iv) Calls on ABC management to publicly reveal all formal and informal
criticisms made against this program over recent years; and 
(v) Calls on ABC management to immediately make public the reasons for
this decision.

Contact: Tim Hollo on 0437 587 562

Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
ph: (02) 6277 3588
mob: 0437 587 562

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