ABC records 241 redundancies in response to $254m budget cut
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has recorded almost 250 redundancies since the beginning of the financial year.
The ABC's chief operating officer David Pendleton confirmed the figure during a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra.
"Total redundancies, year to date, to the 22nd of February, are 241," Mr Pendleton told the hearing.
The ABC announced a redundancy process at the end of last year as a result of the Federal Government's decision to reintroduce an efficiency dividend for the national broadcaster, cutting the budget by $254 million over the next five years.
ABC managing director Mark Scott said the overall figure for redundancies also included some staff who lost their positions when the Coalition withdrew funding for the Australia Network last year.
Mr Scott was asked to detail how many staff had been made redundant so far due to the domestic budget constraints.
He told the committee more than 100 staff have "exited" through direct redundancies.
He said there had been consultation with staff about that process.
"Some of these are distinguished colleagues who have been long contributors in the place and we are sorry to see them go," Mr Scott said.
ABC will look for productivity offsets: Scott
Government senator Anne Ruston questioned Mr Scott about how many redundancies could have been prevented if there was a wage freeze.
"2016 is the year when the industrial agreement becomes due that covers 90 per cent plus of our staff," Mr Scott replied.
He said the ABC board would take advice from the Government as policy was developed.
"The wages environment will need to be very tight," he said.
He said the broadcaster would be looking for "productivity offsets" and that was expected to involve "significant engagement with our staff around that matter".
Government senator Anne Urquhart raised media reports that the redundancy process was nicknamed "The Hunger Games" because it pitted staff against each other.
"It was pretty awful reading," the Senator said.
Mr Scott replied: "I am aware that there was some concern from some of our staff members on the pooling.
"I think there was... a lack of awareness from some of our staff that this was a provision under our industrial agreement.
"Now, most of that pool process has run."
Mr Scott said there was now more certainty for existing staff.
