Overview
- ABC journalists began a protected 24-hour stoppage at 11am AEDT Wednesday, forcing the news channel to take a BBC feed and pushing TV and radio into reruns, automated music, and limited prerecorded shows.
- Flagship programs including 7.30, Radio National Breakfast, AM, PM and The World Today went off air, with the 7pm TV bulletin replaced by Australian Story and music-only schedules running on triple j and Double J.
- Staff voted down management’s latest three-year offer—3.5% in year one, then 3.25% in the next two years plus a $1,000 one-off payment—with unions calling it below inflation and pressing for secure contracts, automatic pay progression, and guardrails on AI.
- Managing director Hugh Marks apologised to audiences, said the offer is the most the ABC can sustain and could outpace inflation for some workers, and signalled the broadcaster may seek help from the Fair Work Commission.
- Marks widened the ABC’s definition of emergency broadcasting to include major national or international news, allowing recall of staff during the strike, in the organisation’s first major walkout since 2006, with roughly 4,400–4,500 employees and about one-third unionised.