On 8 June, the Guardian reported that the national broadcaster, the ABC, had declared its intention to abolish 58 librarian and archivist positions, with the intention that journalists research and archive their own work. The IAML Australia Executive has been in contact with our colleagues in the ABC Sound Libraries to discuss the impacts.
IAML Australia strongly oppose these cuts and have written to both the ABC Executive and the Minister of Communications:
IAML Australia letter to ABC Executive
IAML Australia letter to Minister of Communications
ALIA issued a public statement in response to the cuts, and have since met with ABC Managing Director, David Anderson. ABC Chair, Ita Butrose, has refuted that the cuts would lead to loss of professionalism. ALIA has since issued an update on 15 June and 22 June.
There have been a number of other public announcements in support of the library and archival workers, including from the Chart Sturt University, the Australian Society of Archivists, ASRA and even internationally from the Heritage Collections Advisory Group in the UK.
Well known Australian actor David Wenham has also made a similar statement in support of the ABC’s librarians and archivists whose professional skills he drew heavily on when making his latest TV series.
ALIA and the Australian Society of Archivists have posted an open letter to the ABC which you can add your support to by signing here. At the time of writing, the letter has almost 3,000 signatures.