Communications Minister Paul Fletcher has encouraged the ABC to reconsider its inner-city offices.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The ABC declined to comment on the suggestion,made in a letter sent to ABC managing director David Anderson on Monday morning and seen by The Sydney Morning Herald andThe Age.
Mr Anderson and chairwoman Ita Buttrose,who are due to release a five-year strategic plan this month,have beenpushing the government to reconsider the funding freeze. There have been estimatesup to 200 staff at the $1 billion-a-year taxpayer-funded broadcaster could be cut.
Mr Fletcher said consolidation of the ABC's capital city property portfolio was an opportunity to move to purpose-built facilities and secure the corporation's long-term future."I would strongly encourage you[to] include a detailed property asset strategy as part of your strategic plan,"he said in the letter.
He noted Nine Entertainment Co's decision to sell its premises in Willoughby on Sydney's lower North Shore and lease offices in North Sydney,and Seven West Media's recent consolidation of operations to a main facility in Eveleigh,with some news resources at Martin Place.
"Media companies across the broader Australian media sector are responding to broadcast infrastructure,outsourced and shared services,better and more efficient utilisation of real property (including decentralisation initiatives),and the implementation of agile work practices in purpose-built facilities to boost the productivity of the modern workforce,"the letter says.
Nine is looking tocut $100 million from its cost base and Seven hasreduced costs by $20 million in the past six months.