One of the catalysts for this Parliamentary Inquiry was the growing concern over a reduction in the level of ABC television arts production in Melbourne. In announcing the Inquiry in May 1998, the Victorian Premier, who is also the Minister for the Arts, indicated there were fears that the Melbourne based Express program would be re-located to Sydney. Following the axing of the ABC television book program Between The Lines, such a move would be seen as a diminution of support for Victorian based productions and creativity.
The demise of Between The Lines prior to the commencement of this Inquiry and the ABC's plans to replace Express, came under close scrutiny by the Committee from the point of view of the ABC's decision making process and the effects of these programming decisions on the arts and cultural life in Victoria.
The cases and supporting evidence outlined in this chapter illustrate an example of a Victorian-based production activity that the ABC had planned to relocate to Sydney. Evidence indicates that it was the announcement of this Parliamentary Inquiry that led to arts production remaining in Melbourne for the immediate future.
The story of the demise of Between The Lines and Express and the ABC's decision to recruit SBS presenter, Andrea Stretton, is pieced together using evidence put to the Committee by many witnesses including senior ABC management and arts production staff directly involved in the two programs.
