ABC Sydney radio station staff say they feel ‘undervalued, ignored’ by line-up changes as stars exit

Staff at a Sydney radio station have lashed out following a major line up change which means four key presenters won’t be heard on airwaves. It comes as a substantial listener petition was handed to management.

Staff and loyal listeners say they have been left in the dark about programming plans for ABC Radio Sydney after it was announced that four key presenters won’t be heard on air in the new year.

Employees at the ABC, who are also dealing with a permanent move from Ultimo to the new multimillion-dollar studios in Parramatta, say they’ve been ‘shocked’ by the line-up changes.

Popular presenters Sarah Macdonald, Richard Glover, Simon Marnie and Robbie Buck won’t be hosting radio shows in 2025, and executives have yet to announce their full line-up plans.

“Listeners need to be given at least some explanation about the strategy going forward”, Cassandra Parkinson, President of the Friends of the ABC, told The Daily Telegraph.

“We need to hear from Head of Audio executive Ben Latimer about why the decisions were made”, Parkinson said.

Morning announcer Sarah Macdonald hasn’t been heard on air for almost two weeks after she told listeners that her contract wouldn’t be renewed by management.

“I’m not going to be on the radio with you next year. The ABC has decided not to renew my contract”, Ms Macdonald told her audience last month.

Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck for ABC Breakfast. Buck announced he was leaving the show. Picture: Supplied

Frustrated listeners created three petitions seeking the reinstatement of Macdonald to the ABC. One petition generated almost 6000 signatures via Change.org, and the principal petitioner Suzanne Smith says she has delivered the petition to the ABC Board, chairman and the managing director. “We have asked for a response to our concerns and comments”, Smith told petitioners last week.

Macdonald has received strong support from other radio presenters, including from retired ABC presenter Wendy Harmer who has been texting Macdonald. 2GB’s Ray Hadley said, “I don’t know Sarah Macdonald but I do know one thing about her, she’s a quality broadcaster and I would say that quality broadcasters are in short supply at the ABC.” Richard Glover last month told his audience that ‘I don’t understand’ the decision for Macdonald’s contract not to be renewed.

In a statement distributed to staff last month, and uploaded to the ABC website, the radio network’s Director of Audio at ABC Ben Latimer said the line up changes were ‘driven by rapidly evolving audience expectations.’

“The schedule for next year and the roster of presenters across our networks have been carefully thought through and discussed with relevant managers. It’s clear that we are navigating a period of significant transition”, said Latimer’s statement.

“I would urge you not to focus on individual changes in programming and look instead to the broader plan to grow audiences and the contribution you will make as talented and respected broadcast professionals.”

ABC radio presenter Sarah Macdonald

Simon Marnie signed off for the last time on ABC radio.

The union representative for ABC staff says that during the current period of line-up disruptions they’ve been ignored by management.

“The changes to Radio Sydney line up came as a shock to staff. CPSU members feel that the decades of experience of staff is being undervalued and ignored. They work incredibly hard, are proud of what they’re producing and are loyal to the ABC”, Jocelyn Gammie of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) ABC Section Secretary told The Daily Telegraph.

“We know that for any workplace change to be successful, the people doing the work must be meaningfully consulted. CPSU members at the ABC want to understand the intention of these changes and be genuinely involved to ensure change is managed well”, said Gammie.

ABC Friends President, Cassandra Parkinson, and Vice-President, Carol Stuart with ABC Chair, Kim Williams. Picture: Supplied

Radio and TV veteran Ron Wilson – who last week announced that he’ll be hosting a new breakfast talkback show on Sydney radio 2SM – said that it was ‘time for change’ at the ABC.

“Sometimes you need a regeneration, a rebirth, a regrowth in the organisation. People who have been in the same position on a radio or TV station for 15-20 years, I think it’s time for change. That’s definitely what we’re seeing in the ABC,” Wilson told Daily Telegraph.

“The ABC has to reach out to a new market. The available older demographic is getting thinner, and the younger audience are after a different offering from radio and TV. And unless we can find ways to meet that challenge I think this routing of older staff is just going to continue.”

ABC Sydney radio drive host Richard Glover. Supplied: ABC

Long time ABC radio personality Simon Marnie signed-off from the ABC in an emotional broadcast that was attended by hundreds of listeners at Government House last weekend. Marnie learnt last month that the ABC didn’t have a ‘role’ for him next year.

For Marnie’s final broadcast on Sunday, fellow ABC personalities Craig Reucassel, Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara, James Valentine, Robbie Buck, Simone Whetton, Renee Krosch, Lindsay McDougall, Thomas Oriti and Nas Campanella turned up to the outside broadcast to support him.

ABC chairman Kim Williams during his National Press Club appearance, during which he claimed that “patriotism” was a “national task” that “will necessarily fall mostly to the ABC”. Picture: Sky News

Buck told Marnie “we love you … we’re going to miss you”. Later in the day, Buck used his Sunday night radio show to make a low-key announcement that he too was leaving ABC radio.

“I think ABC management have got absolute rocks in their head“, NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers told ABC listeners about the decision to axe Marnie.

And, in a surprising move, two of the King’s representatives – Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley AC KC – appeared on Marnie’s final shows to acknowledge his three decades of broadcasting.

“I wanted to say a big thank you”, the Governor-General told Marnie.

Popular personality Richard Glover retired from the ABC last week. Staff reported to the Telegraph that executive Ben Latimer attended Glover’s final show in Ultimo, but wasn’t seen at the post-show party attended by staff and listeners.

“I worry about the staff who are leaving. I just hope they’re OK, and they’re being looked after”, said Cassandra Parkinson of audience supporter group ABC Friends.

The Daily Telegraph requested interviews with ABC Chairman Kim Williams and Director of Audio at ABC Ben Latimer. And, through a spokesman, declined to be interviewed.