ABC moves 300 staff to Parramatta ‘to stay relevant’

In a major shake-up of the ABC, hundreds of employees will be moved out of its inner-city headquarters in an effort to “stay relevant.”

ABC chair Ita Buttrose has justified moving ABC staff to Sydney’s western suburbs by acknowledging its current inner-city Ultimo headquarters meant it was “a bit remote from the rest of the community”.

About 300 staff will be moved to Parramatta by 2024 under plans unveiled by managing director David Anderson on Wednesday, to address long-held concerns about the public broadcaster staying relevant to suburban and regional audiences.

The shake-up will see 200 staff from news, regional and local, entertainment and specialist divisions, as well as support staff, moved to new offices.

The ABC headquarters in Ultimo. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Ms Buttrose said the move was not politically motivated.

“It’s not designed to appease any Government, it’s a move that David Anderson and I and the board have decided is in the best interests of the ABC,” she said.

“You can’t live remotely from the rest of the community and I think because our headquarters in Sydney are based in Ultimo we’re a bit remote from the rest of the community.”

Long-time ABC personality Quentin Dempster welcomed the move, saying “having available ABC staff working within the communities they’re covering makes sense”.

“Over the decades the ABC has become Sydney-centric because of defunding – it’s cheaper under one operational roof.”

He said with the digital revolution ABC staffers can work from home “or anywhere … with, or without, a latte”.

The ABC has long been under fire for not reflecting audience diversity and being captive to Green-left inner-city politics, with reforms announced a year ago acknowledging the broadcaster needed to “stay relevant” by having fewer staff in Sydney and more in suburban areas.

“It will help us to be more connected, relevant, and engaged with communities in the demographic heart of Sydney,” Mr Anderson said.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said he believed it would drive more diversity of opinion.

“The ABC needs to serve all Australians,” he said.

“But Sydney is not Australia and Ultimo is not Sydney.”

David Borger. Picture: Matthew Vasilescu

Business Western Sydney director David Borger said Parramatta was the geographical heart of Sydney and “it was the right move”.

Institute of Public Affairs communication director Evan Mulholland said: “It is unrealistic to suggest that the ABC’s coverage will be any less biased. Its main presenters will still be based at inner city studios.”

Originally published as ABC moves 300 staff to Parramatta ‘to stay relevant’