The ABC’s Mission
The ABC’s charter is enshrined in s6 of the ABC Act. The first stipulation is that the ABC is “to provide within Australia innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a high standard as part of the Australian broadcasting system consisting of national, commercial and community sectors”.
The ABC educates Australians, and reflects an image of our national identity. What happens then, when activist journalists portray the image of an Australia they wish to see, in place of the Australia that is? The Women’s Cooee campaign has assembled multiple examples of ABC’s bias when reporting on gender issues.
Summary of AWEI 2022 Results
| Category | Media |
| Organisation | Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) |
| FOI Documents Link | 202223-003 Documents 1-10 Documents 11-12 (Submission and scorecard) |
| AWEI Score | 177 |
| AWEI Ranking | GOLD |
| Sponsorship | No |
| Invoices for 2022 | $9784.50 |
ABC AWEI 2022 Submission
The ABC’s submission to the 2022 AWEI is 186 pages long. It is comprehensive, and reveals a wide spectrum of activities undertaken by the ABC in order to win points and progress in the index ranking.
Section 1 – Standing Submission
Section 1 is the ‘standing submission’ and points may be carried over for 1 year. It is worth a total of 79 out of 200 available points in the AWEI.
ABC scored 74/79 for the standing submission.
This section is divided into 4 sub-sections:
- HR Policies & Practice (questions 1-7) – ABC scored 20/20 for this section
- Full marks carried over for 7 questions
- LGBTQ Bullying/Harassment & Support (questions 8-11) – ABC scored 13/14
- Full marks carried over for 6 questions
- Partial marks (3/4) carried over for S1 Q9 “Behavioural examples of what constitutes bullying/harassment”
- Trans/Gender Diverse Inclusion (questions 12-18) – ABC scored 23/27
- Full marks carried over for 6 questions
- Score of 2/6 received for S1 Q18 “Trans and gender diverse applicants”
- Strategic focus (questions 19-24) – ABC scored 18/18
- Full marks carried over for 5 questions
- Score of 3/3 received for S1 Q24 “Customer Information: Changing Gender Markers”
Section 2 – Strategy & Accountability
ABC scored 18/22 for this section.
- S2 Question 1 – Engaging external LGBTQ expertise – ABC declares that they are members of Pride in Diversity, and engaged with their business liaison [REDACTED] several times during the year. for “consultation and guidance on how implementation of LGBTQIA+ Awareness training the included learning objectives for allies”.
- S2 Question 2 – Document LGBTQ Strategy – ABC has significantly expanded on their answer from last year.
- Of the “big ticket items” only “gender equity pay review” is left unhighlighted (as not relevant to LGBTQ experience).
- P26 shows a number of items from the ABC 5 year plan 2020-2025 noting:
- new Commissioning Guidelines launched in 2021 that “drive an increase [of] awareness and involvement of LGBTQIA+ talent” and
- “the launch of ABC ZenDesk internal database to capture diverse talent including LGBTQIA+ talent and crew.” (ZenDesk is work management platform).
- S2 Question 3 – LGBTQ Advisory Group – ABC scored 3/4 for this section. The marker commented “No evidence of promotion of advisory function to the wider organisation”.
- P30 – “We have found that often it is Journalists / Content Makers that will reach out in order to gain guidance on a piece of content they are working on and ensure they address any questions associated with language and their approach to matters associated with LGBTQIA+“
- P32 “Demonstrated Intranet tab of the Journalists / Content Makers providing links to helpful Editorial polices and other resources to improve their reporting and engagement with the LGBTQIA+ Stories.“
- P36 “Here is an example of how the ABC Pride network may connect with the business to guide them – by way of context some content had been written that needed correcting to the [REDACTED] reached out to the author and guided them on correction“
- S2 Question 6 – Strategic work in recruitment – ABC scored 2/3 points for this question. The marker’s comment was “Good work done but consider more around 3rd party platforms, per PID recruitment training”. The training mentioned may refer to this training package.
- S2 Question 8 – LGBTQ Inclusion Promotion – ABC scored 2/4 for this question.
- “ABC has developed two additional platforms to reach the LGBTIQA+ Community” – the ABCQueer Newsletter and LGBT news topic
- 3 programs featuring Courtney Act (the alter ego of drag performer Shane Jenek) given as evidence of ensuring that LGBTQIA+ presenters are visible to difference age groups
- ABCQueer Instagram channel partnering with Gender Queer Australia a peer support organisation that promotes the Genderbread Person.
Section 3 – LGBTQ Employee Network / Resource Groups
ABC scored 27/34 for this section.
- S3 Question 10 – Network Leadership Structure – ABC scored 2/3 – Marker commented “No evidence of HR position as ongoing in steering, Exec sponsor named in Q33 is not HR lead”
- S3 Question 12 – Orientation and onboarding – ABC notes that new starters must complete the LGBTIQA+ training.
- S3 Question 13 – Strategy and Goals – ABC scored 0/2 – Marker commented “No evidence showing the objectives for the network chair”.
- There are several pages of evidence given, but most are fully redacted.
- Note the goals for LGBTIQ+ talent representation:
- “Team goals/ objectives for ensuring that diverse talent including the explicit reference to LGBTIQ+ Community. This tool is used across the ABC for radio, screen and commissioning content to ensure that the ABC does represent all Australians.“
- S3 Question 20 – Network Reporting – ABC scored 0/4 – Marker commented “Insufficient evidence submitted for part [a] – an annual strategic report produced by the network”
Section 4 – Visibility of Inclusion
ABC scored 15/16 for this section.
- S4 Question 26 – ABC scored 1/2. Marker commented “No evidence that the process is communicated on LGBTQ Intranet”. Note the question appears on p121-123 but is largely redacted.
Section 5 – Training, Awareness & Professional Development
ABC scored 10/12 for this section.
- S5 Question 28 – Face to Face Training – ABC Scored 2/2.
- 1 hour Diversity Advocates Network Ally Training.
- The training covers “How to be a great ally for LGBT+”. This is an example of a recorded training session focuses on being an ally.
- S5 Question 29 – Online Training – ABC Scored 2/2. Marker noted that the “question asks for participant numbers”
- Online training mandatory for all new starters
- Video “Ally Training with a focus on Transgender and LGBTQIA+ Awareness”
- This online training is an example (created for the Red Cross) of online training
- S5 Question 31 – LBGTQ inclusion Training Plan – ABC scored 1/2. Marker commented “no progress evidenced”
Section 6 – Executive Leadership & Engagement
ABC scored 6/8 for this section.
- S6 Question 33 – Executive Sponsor or Champion – ABC scored 0/2. Marker commented “No evidence supplied”.
Section 7 – Data Collection & Reporting
ABC scored 6/6 for this section.
Section 8 – Community Engagement
ABC scored 6/6 for this section.
- S8 Question 39 – Employer Branded Participation at Community Events – Here “community” means LGBTQ events. ABC participated in “a number of major events” including “Feast” festival in Adelaide where they promoted the ABC Queer brand.
- S8 Question 40 – Pro bono or financial support: LGBTQ Charities/Organisations – Jeremy Fernandez hosted an event for Pride in Diversity (ACON);
- S8 Question 41 – Fundraising for LGBTQ Charities – ABC encouraged staff to donate to 2 organisations (which were redacted).
Section 9 – Survey
ABC scored 2/2 for this section.
- S9 Question 42 – Survey participation – As a large organisation, ABC required 100 or more responses to receive the 2 points for this question.
Section 10 – Additional Work
ABC scored 13/15 for this section.
The additional work section allows the organisation to nominate up to 15 additional activities to receive 1 point each. Sometimes evidence supplied for another question will be credited in this section. Additional items provided for other questions can be moved here.
Refer to pages 159 to 184 of the submission document.
| Item | Score | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Q43a,c,i,j,s,x, Pro-bono | 1 | Page 159 – 6 pro bono activities submitted separately, combined |
| Q43b Diversity Advocate Network | 1 | Page 160 |
| Q43e Innies + Outies Podcast | 1 | Page 164 |
| Q43f Media coverage | 1 | Page 165 – Star Observer “Queering Australian Newsrooms” |
| Q43g PIP conference | 1 | Page 166to 167 – ABC employee hosted ACON Pride in Practice Conference |
| Q43h Cyber Safety Summit | 1 | Page 168 – Noted that the content is not specific to LGBTQ |
| Q43k Community events | 1 | Page 169 to 171 – Fran Kelly “Queer Thinking” at Ras Pride; Fran Kelly at Pinnacle Foundation; Patricia Karvelas at Chillout Festival |
| Q43l Intersectionality | 1 | Page 172 to 173 – Articles circulated internally Page 175 – ABC Queer panel on cultural appropriation Page 176 – Intersectionality of rural and remote LGBTIQA+ on “Movin to the Country” Page 177 – Love on the spectrum |
| Q43n Stakeholder engagement | 1 | Page 174 – ABC PRIDE and ABC Queer on ABC News Breakfast Page 189 – ABC staff emceed ACON’s Pride in Sport Awards |
| Q43r Community Spirit Award | 1 | Page 178 |
| Q43u ABC Queer newsletter | 1 | Page 181 – “Something queer in your inbox” |
| Q43w Women in leadership summit | 1 | Page 182 |
| Mardi Gras Broadcast Rights | 1 | Page 184 |
ABC AWEI 2022 Scorecard
- ABC rolled over many of their Section 1 scores from 2021
- ABC attained a score of 177, the same score as in 2021
Invoices Totalling $9784.50
Standard membership $6600
Corporate Table for Pride in Diversity LGBTQ Inclusion Awards $3184.50
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