ABC’s Ferguson in limbo over China move

The ABC still cannot confirm the start date of star correspondent Sarah Ferguson as China bureau chief.

ABC‘s Sarah Ferguson at Rose Bay in Sydney. Picture: John Appleyard.

The ABC still cannot confirm the start date of star correspondent Sarah Ferguson as China bureau chief or whether she has received a visa to work in the country.

Amid the global outbreak of the coronavirus emanating from the Chinese city of Wuhan, ABC management was tight-lipped on what was ­delaying Ferguson’s move to China with her husband, former Q&A host Tony Jones.

Meanwhile, correspondent Bill Birtles will head to Jakarta as ­bureau chief mid-year after several years in China.

Since stepping down from Four Corners early last year, Ferguson has been working on a three-part documentary into child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, which is yet to air on the ABC.

Although originally slated to leave for China last October, Ferguson reportedly delayed her departure to finish the documentary.

Jones told Media Diary last month the delay had nothing to do with getting a visa from the Chinese authorities, and tells Monday’s Media Diary that the couple’s visas were “delayed” because of Chinese New Year.

However, he told the ABC’s Richard Fidler in November that the “visa situation for journalists is tough, and we’ll concentrate on Sarah getting her visa. I’ll be ­accompanying her as a kind of travelling novelist”.

The Australian understands that Ferguson’s visa application was submitted late last year as there is only a three-month window between receiving the visa and arrival in the country.

Meanwhile, Nick Leys is ­returning to his old job at the ABC on February 10 as head of communications as the public broadcaster prepares to axe staff as part of its five-year blueprint slated for ­release in March.

ABC managing director David Anderson, who was promoted to the top job in May last year, is ­leading a wide-ranging strategic ­review in a bid to plug a budget hole of $84m.

Mr Anderson told The Australian last year that job cuts were ­inevitable as part of the extensive review. The ABC veteran is focused on overhauling the broadcaster’s appeal to Australians from the suburbs, regions and different ethnic backgrounds amid ­criticism of left-wing bias and ­selective coverage.

Leys is coming across from the Australian Energy Council and will report to Mark Tapley, who was appointed director of strategy last month.

Mr Tapley told The Australian Leys would work closely with Mr Anderson, the leadership team and chairwoman Ita Buttrose.

“I am delighted to welcome Nick back to the ABC,” Mr Tapley said. “He is an outstanding communications professional and his detailed understanding of the ABC and its challenges and opportunities will be a valuable asset to the team.”

Leys’s arrival is part of a ­restructure of the media and public affairs department after its ­director of communications, Michael “Mick” Millett, died last year. Its head of public affairs, Emma McDonald, left shortly after the federal election in May to join Communications Minister Paul Fletcher’s office as his key adviser on television, radio and streaming.

Leys, married to Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan, told The Australian: “I’ve found the energy sector both challenging and rewarding but the time is right to head back to the ABC. I am particularly excited to work with David Anderson and his leadership team during this ­important period for the national broadcaster.”

Prior to working at the ABC from 2014-18, Leys was senior media journalist at The Australian from 2011-14 and also spent a decade as a senior journalist working at News Corp’s The Australian, The Sunday Telegraph and Herald Sun news­papers.

Leys was also a journalist on ABC's Media Watch program for a year and on The Sydney Morning Herald for three years.