Communications minister seeks briefing from ABC management on latest cuts

“I just think that needs to be explained. I haven’t yet seen a thorough examination of that and I don’t understand why if putting less emphasis on 7pm, there’s still not a need for somebody to be identifiably the political editor.”

A tweet from Cassidy on Thursday, describing the decision as “like saying a restaurant doesn’t need a head chef”, was put to Stevens by ABC Brisbane’s Rebecca Livingston on Friday. Stevens responded that it is an outdated view of the ABC’s news and content delivery structure.

Canberra press gallery veteran Michelle Grattan also said the move is “very confusing”, while retired journalist Laurie Oakes called the decision “pathetic” on Thursday, highlighting the absence of former senator Amanda Stoker’s statement on David Van in Thursday’s 7pm package.

“And they don’t think they need a political editor.”

“I suppose if you haven’t got a political editor, then you don’t have to pay anybody in the bureau at the rate of a political editor, but that’s probably a rather cynical view,” Cassidy added.

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Stevens and the ABC have said the political editor role was created in 2015 for Chris Uhlmann, though Cassidy labelled this explanation misleading.

“It’s a bit misleading in the sense that there’s always been somebody in the bureau identifiably the political correspondent. You can call it political editor, political correspondent or whatever, but there’s always been that position.”

Cassidy added while the title of the role changed, nothing else did, and that a journalist has always been responsible for the 7pm bulletin. That bulletin, he said, still needs to be serviced.

“I can understand them just de-emphasising that to an extent and doing other things, by all means, why not? But the 7pm bulletin still has to be serviced, and in my view you still need an identifiable senior political reporter in the bureau.”

He warned another aspect is the loss of a marquee position for everyone else to strive for. Levelling out the playing field and putting everyone on the same status, he said, leaves ABC’s journalists without incentive.

“It’s remarkable that only the ABC has identified this urgent need to change the structure of bureaus in Parliament House. But I’ll leave it at that.”

ABC’s senior news management has also had to endure a rigorous interrogation from its staff on the latest job cuts, with the public broadcaster’s Canberra bureau staff holding a fiery closed-door meeting on Friday.

People close to the matter, who asked not to be named so they could speak freely, said Stevens and his deputy Gavin Fang each addressed staff for 30 minutes to justify the decision that has shocked the newsroom. Probyn did not attend the meeting.

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The Canberra bureau will retain more than 20 political reporters and editors according to the ABC, with senior journalists including David Speers, Laura Tingle, Greg Jennett, Nour Haydar and others, but Cassidy said having a defined head of bureau is helpful for those looking to pass on information.

“They often go to the head of bureau if they’re confused. I think that’s helpful.”

Probyn said he will likely take a break before doing whatever is next for him.

He isn’t currently in any negotiations with any media outlet and was still in a “fog of disbelief”.

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