Problems confronting the ABC

It’s Time for a Drink! We are so excited to welcome you back that as a THANK YOU to our members, our Chairman and Board have called “drinks on us” and are paying the bill.

Members’ Drinks will return at fortyfivedownstairs (and yes, by all means bring a guest at the normal price of $35) at 5.30pm on Monday 9 August.

We will be adhering to every Covid-19 guideline, you will need to enter with masks on and scan in with QR code and with mandatory mask wearing, patrons are permitted to remove masks to eat and drink, but must put them on when they’re not doing so. 

We will take this opportunity to honour our Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday award recipients:

Erika Feller AO, for distinguished service to the international community, to the recognition and protection of human rights, and to refugee law;

Maree McCabe AM, for significant service to people living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, and to the aged care sector;

Peter McMullin AM, for significant service to business, to the law, and to the community;

Clive Scott AM, for significant service to the hotel accommodation industry, and to the arts;

Dr Gillian Sparkes AM, for significant service to environmental sustainability, and to public administration; and

Mary Lou Jelbart AM, the founder and operator of fortyfivedownstairs who has done so much to enhance Melbourne’s cultural scene.

And we are delighted that one of our founding Melbourne Forum Directors Dr Michael Henry AM who is now Chair of Friends of the ABC (Vic) will lead the conversation on the problems confronting our much loved national broadcaster.

The changes to the funding for the ABC over the years have been catastrophic. The cut by $784 million since the Liberal / National Party gained government in 2014 has resulted in mass redundancies and reduction in travel budget, which allows ABC journalists and storytellers to get to places not accessible by others, has been cut by 25%.

There must be a way to help!