Albanese government says moving SBS to natural heartland of Sydney’s west is too costly

Moves to relocate SBS to Western Sydney have been shelved with the Albanese government to instead help fund a new “production hub”. The move follows a revolt among ABC staff over their move to Parramatta.

A decade-long call for the north shore-based “multicultural mothership” SBS to relocate to its “natural home” in Western Sydney has been rejected with the Albanese government saying it costs too much.

The move follows ABC staff grumbling over their move to Parramatta, with claims of logistic issues and trouble luring talent.

Instead, The Sunday Telegraph can exclusively reveal SBS will build a new Western Sydney-based “production hub” with a TV studio able to host live audiences, radio/podcasting

booths and collaboration spaces.

The ongoing calls or SBS to relocate prompted Labor’s Bill Shorten to commit to a feasibility study in the lead-up to the 2019 federal election with Anthony Albanese repeating the commitment at the last election.

The SBS office building at Artarmon in Sydney.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, whose government deemed a full relocation of the public broadcaster too expensive. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A Shorten-Albanese media release issued in 2019 entitled “A Fair Go For The West With SBS” noted how Western Sydney was “one of Australia’s most diverse and fast-growing areas” and that SBS was “Australia’s most diverse multi-platform digital broadcaster”

The move has been met with mixed reaction from Western Sydney community leaders, who have been lobbying for a decade for the business to relocate, including the establishment of a “TV precinct”.

However, the government revealed the feasibility study which had focused on a “larger scale full relocation of SBS from its Artarmon headquarters” as part of the development of a “precinct” had been found to be too costly.

“Given the significant costs involved in a full relocation, the Government has decided not to pursue this option,” it said in a statement.

The studio at SBS Artarmon

“The new funding to expand SBS’s broadcasting facilities to Western Sydney has been developed with SBS as an alternative to full relocation.

“This immediate strategic investment will be a quicker and more efficient way to stimulate the Western Sydney creative economy and offer significant socio-economic benefits to local communities.”

The decision to establish a new hub instead of relocating the entire business comes amid an ongoing revolt among ABC staff over its move to Parramatta, with staff reportedly “grumbling” about logistic issues, including difficulties in luring on-air talent to the studios.

The government funding will go towards the development of a detailed business case with SBS to engage with councils and businesses in progressing a hub early next year 2025.

The move follows ABC staff grumbling over their move to Parramatta. The headquarters are in Ultimo, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the government was committed to “growing and supporting” SBS.

“I thank the SBS Board and management for their initiative in proposing this exciting project, and look forward to working with them to bring it to fruition,” she said.

Federal Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland called the shift in gears “exciting”. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue founder Christopher Brown said while it was “not the full hog”, it was a good start.

“We’ve been on this journey for a decade and am delighted to see some progress,” he said.

“This is not some shitty real estate play – we want to build a better digital platform. It’s been a poor little brother of the ABC. We’re saying, don’t be afraid of Western Sydney.

Executive Director of Business Western Sydney David Borger. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue founder Christopher Brown. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger, who first called for the relocation in 2014, said the rejection of a full relocation as “disappointing”, but it was a good first step.

“It’s disappointing that the mothership of multiculturalism won’t be based in the heartland, but this is a great first step,” he said.

“It’s about creating a little space to get the voices out here in Western Sydney in the media.”

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