A big mistake
One sentence in Jon Faine’s article (Comment, 18/6) on the ABC stood out. ″The basic reality is that people grow into the ABC, not the other way round.” As people mature they have more time to think and they turn to the ABC for informed discussion. Trying desperately to appeal to the young with quizzes and pop music is a waste of resources. The aim of the ABC is to inform, educate and entertain. It is big task but worth concentrating on. Removing people like Andrew Probyn is a huge mistake.
Gael Barrett, North Balwyn
Funding disgrace
Jon Faine makes the point about the audience from 1989 being different to the audience from 2019 and this is particularly telling. I was not listening in 1989 but over the years I became a frequent listener and was often disappointed when he was absent.
His point about being “the most complained about person in all of ABC Radio” is right on target as I was among that number as well as I didn’t always agree with everything he said, but I was willing to see the other side of issues that he raised. The idea that this “digital-first” policy being adopted by the ABC is the road to a younger more involved audience is, he says, “laughably unsophisticated″, and I couldn’t agree more. I am long gone from the description of belonging to a younger cohort, but find I am even less engaged with much content across the various ABC media platforms, apart from those programs he mentions which are stimulating and thought-provoking as well as funny.
The constant draining of funds from the ABC is a disgrace and should be reversed as soon as possible.
John Paine, Kew East
Endless cycle
I see that the ABC is letting go experienced staff in an effort to transit to the digital age and at the same time cut costs. My very best wishes to all those good people cut loose.
Perhaps the ABC could save money by broadcasting repeat programs. However, when I checked, there is hardly any room in the schedule for yet more repeats. Perhaps that is another reason why rusted-on viewers are applying the penetrating oil to loosen their grip. No alternative broadcaster is without puerile, intrusive and annoying ads, so I guess we will just have to read good books or listen to music instead.
Kevin Luxford, Mount Waverley
What is to come?
My despair has been steadily growing at the dumbing down of the ABC seemingly in order to appeal to a wider audience. Presenters regularly asking the audience to phone in with song suggestions or anecdotes on some concocted theme have me yelling at the radio “this is the ABC for (goodness) sake!” I watch or listen mainly for serious discussion, a deeper coverage and analysis of issues in the news and stimulation of ideas, and there is still a lot of very good stuff on ABC radio and TV. However, you have to ask, following the redundancy of one of its foremost political journalists as part of a restructure, what’s next? Paul Sands, Sunbury
Retain state news
Australia is too large and diverse to have only one 7pm news and weather broadcast. We need nightly state by state news.
Maria McKinnon, Northcote
Time to act
It is easy to blame workers for low productivity, but sometimes it’s partly the fault of government and business.
For many years Australia has not spent enough on research and development compared with other countries in the OECD. As columnist Ross Gittins has pointed out, our businesses need to invest more in better equipment if we are to improve productivity.
We need more investment in many things including quality education, recognition of overseas qualifications by many of our highly skilled migrants as well supporting our brightest graduates to stay in Australia.
We can no longer rely solely on our mineral wealth to maintain our standard of living. It’s time for action.
Paul Chivers, Box Hill North
Heed the lessons
Have we learnt nothing from our experience with COVID? (″The seventh wave″, 18/6). I think we have learnt, with great clarity, that if a virus were to develop in the future that had the potential to end all human life, then it most certainly would.
Julian Guy, Mount Eliza
A greater design
It is pleasing to see the Australian Institute of Architects recognising the best works of their members, whether for students at Melbourne University, innovative high-rise housing in Brunswick or libraries and law courts in regional cities (″Learning locale, library, laundry honoured″, 17/6).
If the institute is truly committed to improving the standards of good design and social amenity it would be raising its voice about the unsustainable conditions of new housing developments on Melbourne’s fringes. Large houses are squeezed onto small sites without solar orientation, with inadequate outdoor space, poor access to public transport and an absence of local shops and community facilities. These unnecessarily large cookie-cutter houses are the making of mortgage stress and social isolation and are in stark contrast to the one-off projects the institute chooses to celebrate.
An institute that celebrates the best has a responsibility to be more than self-congratulatory. It should broaden its horizon and provide advocacy and solutions for better housing and lifestyles for those who can’t afford an architect.
Jim Holdsworth,
registered architect,
Port Melbourne
Flat Rising
Critic Cameron Woodhead is right to question the mistake that is Rising (17/6). Most galling is the fact that it has replaced the annual Melbourne Festival, which has, without any proper consultation or protest, been dumped. The Melbourne Festival was established as part of the Spoleto Festival of Three Worlds in 1986, connecting us with sister festivals in Italy and the US, and played a huge part in Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s cultural capital. That it was dumped so unceremoniously only seems to prove that the state government does not have any regard whatsoever for Victoria’s cultural history and institutions.
Karen van Ulzen, editor,
Dance Australia magazine,
Abbotsford Convent
Give Rising time
Every critic has their hits and misses and clearly Cameron Woodhead’s critique of Rising is a miss. Why does he think the Rising Festival needs to tick a box or limit itself to a narrow interpretation of what it should be or stand for? He compares this festival with other states’ celebrations like it’s a sports competition. Give it time to develop and nurture whatever mood or themes, shows or performances it’s likely to embrace and showcase.
I may not have been privy to as many performances as Woodhead, but the one I did see Waripa was one of the best shows I have seen. Hosted by Kutcha Edwards, and comprising an Indigenous ensemble of singers, musicians and dancers, I was mesmerised and immersed in what was a unique, moving and incredible ceremony and performance. If it were not for the Rising Festival then I may never have experienced this stand-out, once-in-a-lifetime show.
Kim Clarke, Thornbury
Note the logic
If some people want to rely solely on digital financial transactions, let them. But don’t take away cash for the rest of us. My $50 note can’t be hacked. If I’m robbed, I lose $50, not my entire life savings. If my $50 note is accidentally immersed in water, it still works. My $50 note doesn’t need batteries, it can’t be ″out of range″ and it won’t break if it’s dropped. If the system is down, I can still use my note. My $50 note can be put into a charity box or given to a homeless person.
Sure I use a card sometimes for large purchases, but for everything else please leave me the option of cash. It simplifies life.
Julie Christensen,
Blackburn North
The human touch
Yet again, Warwick McFadyen’s Faith column (18/6) is both poignant and delivers perspective. With AI coming to the fore in this troubled world what it can offer and who controls it is in the realm of the unknown. A gentle ″human touch″, with all its intimacy and power for humans, can also be extended to the world of nature – a way of exploring.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Semi-quavering
Full marks to Ivan Glynn (Letters, 18/6) for pointing out the importance of using semi-colons and other punctuation signs to enhance a piece of writing. As Versace wrote, “Punctuation is the music of language.”
Ailene Strudwick, Mornington
A little help from friends
Your correspondent’s view of the Joe Cocker concert (“A bout of feeling alright”, 17/6) was from a different perspective to mine. Far from being on the ropes, I got by with a little help from my friends and the view from up high was spectacular.
Peter Cook, Essendon
AND ANOTHER THING
The ABC
Oh, ABC what have you done? I will miss Andrew Probyn’s insightful and intelligent reporting. This absurd decision should be reversed.
Carley Pope, Mount Eliza
Is the ABC abandoning Baby Boomers to court our children and grandchildren? Beware of culling us too soon.
Joan Segrave, Healesville
Andrew Probyn clearly wasn’t diverse enough for the ABC.
Greg Hardy, Upper Ferntree Gully
Furthermore
Well said Alastair Pritchard (Letters, 17/6 ) we need politicians with a backbone.
Dan Drummond, Leongatha
Housing is one of the fundamental human needs that must be thought of as basic human rights and removed from the free market economy. There is a place for socialism even in Australia, don’t be scared.
Ralph Böhmer, St Kilda West
My bank just notified me of a 0.06cent refund, I’m going to be all right.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
Fox News fires a producer for one fake news headline about Joe Biden? Fox management must not have been watching their own network during the past 10 years.
John Hughes, Mentone
It looks like too many people have forgotten about the COVID virus, despite clearly remembering the lockdowns. It’s still as dangerous and doesn’t have an expiry date like some are assuming.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
″COVID virus now in seventh wave″ (18/6). Mask up and sanitise well. Seven is not always a lucky number.
Tris Raouf, Hadfield
Finally
Footballers wear ″bra tops″ at training (Letters, 17/6) because they carry a GPS collecting data about the players. They are used also in any major soccer league.
George Fernandez, Eltham North