Aussies have called for the ABC to be defunded after the public broadcaster’s staff went on strike for the first time in 20 years.
ABC employees walked off the job at 11am on Wednesday, with staff demanding an improved pay offer from management and better working conditions.
They are also protesting the widespread use of short-term contracts and limited career progression, and a pay deal that is below inflation.
The ABC’s 24-hour news channel immediately shifted to a BBC America broadcast, with empty desks clearly seen behind host Gemma Veness as she announced the walkout.
Moments before the strike began, Ms Veness told viewers: ‘The ABC is planning to continue delivering some services and emergency broadcasting will not be affected by the strike.’
But Aussies online were not supporting the protesting ABC staff, with many calling the brand a ‘cult’ that should be ‘shut down for good’.
‘Defund the ABC cult! They serve no-one,’ one person wrote on X.
ABC staff walk off the job at Ultimo during an ABC Staff Strike in Sydney on Wednesday
Empty desks were seen behind host Gemma Veness as she announced the walkout
‘Who else is thinking that while ABC staff are on strike, it would be a good time to defund and make it a subscription service?’ another suggested.
‘They can then be paid what they are worth according to their subscription base.’
‘Defund the ABC. Taxpayers have had a gutful of these radical culture-destroying atheistic Marxist communists masquerading as innocent journalists and presenters,’ a third wrote on X.
The ABC will receive a significant funding boost for 2026–27, featuring an additional $83.1million over two years, followed by $43million in ongoing annual funding.
The package includes a $50million boost for local children’s and drama content, along with a commitment to five-year funding cycles to ensure stability.
The 2025-26 operational funding is $1.016 billion.
ABC staff have used the broadcaster’s own airwaves to press their demands.
During Tuesday’s edition of The World, ABC presenter Girish Sawlani pushed for his colleagues to get pay rises.
ABC staff get ready to go on strike at 11am on Wednesday
ABC presenter Girish Sawlani advocated for his own pay increase on Tuesday’s edition of The World
‘The show will look a bit different tomorrow. We will be off air because my colleagues and I will be on strike,’ he said.
‘We’re asking ABC management to deliver secure, safe and sustainable jobs so we can deliver the news and content you deserve. But they are falling short of offering fair pay and conditions.’
The Community and Public Sector Union and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance are representing staff taking action.
‘We’ve been in bargaining for a long time now with the ABC and what we want to see is a pay offer that reflects cost-of-living pressures and actually respects the really important work that the ABC does,’ CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said.
‘ABC plays such an important role in our society and in Australian storytelling and it’s really important ABC management come to the table.’
Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson slammed ABC presenters who hijacked news programs to ‘convey false information’ and spruik Wednesday’s strike, which she branded as an absolute disgrace.
‘There has never been a more important time in this country when we need ABC journalists and other content makers to be out in the field informing Australians,’ she said.
‘I’m incredibly concerned that ABC presenters are hijacking news programs to convey false information about this dispute. This is completely unacceptable.’
ABC staff were not getting a lot of sympathy from Aussie taxpayers
The ABC staff offer includes a pay increase of 3.5 per cent in the first year, 3.25 per cent in each of the subsequent two years, backpay to October 2025, as well as a $1,000 bonus for all ongoing and fixed-term staff.
ABC managing director Hugh Marks released a statement saying he ‘deeply’ regretted the impact the industrial action would have on its audiences.
Mr Marks also said the offer was ‘currently above inflation’.
‘To suggest staff are going backwards with the current offer is not accurate,’ he said.
‘ABC salaries are also higher than many of our competitors within the media sector and the average ABC salary is 5.7 per cent higher than the average Australian salary.
‘The ABC also offers 15.4 per cent super, compared to the 12 per cent minimum, and our generous leave provisions are ahead of many Australian companies of a similar size.
‘So, on average, staff covered by the EA are paid, when including super, almost 10 per cent above the national average.’
About 60 per cent of ABC staff rejected management’s previous offer.
ABC staff walk out of their bureau for strike action at Parliament House in Canberra
The unions are demanding greater night shift penalty rates, reproductive health leave and rules relating to artificial intelligence.
‘Experienced journalists and media workers are being asked to do more with less – with fewer opportunities for pay progression, less certainty about their future, and growing workloads,’ MEAA chief executive Erin Madeley said.
The union urged Aussies to show their support by not engaging with ABC content.
‘This means no clicks on social content and no visits to the ABC website,’ a MEAA post read.
Mr Marks said he was disappointed that MEAA and CPSU announced the strike on Monday after 20 meetings since June.
‘In my view, to date the unions have grossly misrepresented our fair and reasonable offer to its members,’ Mr Marks said.
‘And they have not provided me with any confidence that I can rely on what they say would result in a resolution. If we are to find a resolution, trust on both sides must be key.’
More than 4,400 people work at the ABC, including 2,000 in news, the broadcaster’s largest division.
Daily Mail contacted ABC for comment.
