The Extension of Life Matters
Recommendation R1/2/07 - Director of Radio and Regional Content

The ABC Advisory Council recommends that Radio National consider reinstating Life Matters to the two hour format.

The ABC Advisory Council recognises the profound and unique contribution Life Matters makes to discussion, debate and education on all issues effecting individuals and society. We acknowledge that the extended daily program places considerable pressure on resources, particularly staffing, however we consider that this type of program which is of relevance to all Australians should be prioritised.

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Environment Online
Recommendation R2/2/07 – Director of Innovation

Council recommends that ABC Online creates a direct link from the homepage, such as already exists for ‘News’, ‘Sports’, ‘Weather’, ‘Kids’ etc, to make it easier for users to access the collated content on the ‘environment’ in this area and increase the ABC’s reputation as a key resource in environmental reporting.

At the moment, users searching for content on the ABC website relating to environmental issues access is via selecting the ‘Science’ link on the homepage, then selecting ‘Topic’ and then ‘Environment’.  While this brings up ‘popular’ environmental issues such as drought and climate change, it also includes content covering broader environment and the natural world issues.  The focus in today’s society on climate change and related environmental issues warrants a similar focus from the ABC in the presentation of environmental content on the website. 

This has already been achieved on a smaller scale by 666 Canberra local radio.  They have an initiative called ‘You Can Make a Difference’, a section on their webpage which is constantly promoted on-air.  This page collates all the environmentally-related stories or activities in one location, promotes upcoming events and offers the public the opportunity to respond to stories, suggest new stories and also post the ways that they are making a difference to their environment.  It seems to be very effective at engaging the community on environmental issues.

Having a ‘one-stop-shop’ for national environmental content would be a great step forward for the ABC as the leader in environmental coverage.

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‘Tentpole’ Programming
Recommendation R3/2/07 – To all Output Directors

Council commends the ABC on the way in which it used the Great Global Warming Swindle program to focus expert analysis and audience discussion on global warming from across different ABC programs and platforms.

Council recommends that this approach of using 'tentpole'  programming complemented by cross-platform promotion and discussion of the issues be used on a more regular basis to tackle other important and emerging social issues.

Though members of Council have a variety of views on the Great Global Warming Swindle program itself, Council believes that the great variety of complementary cross-platform programming was an innovative and impressive response to community concerns that underscored the ABC's role in facilitating national discussions.

In particular, Advisory Council believes that:

• the simulcast of the program across ABC TV, ABC2 and Newsradio;
• the discussion of relevant issues on other programmes such as triple j's Hack;
• the introduction of the program;
• the following interview and panel debate; and
• the accompanying website that encouraged user discussion, constituted an impressive and innovative convergence of the broadcaster's resources.

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Delicious Recipe Booklets for New Cooks
Recommendation R4/2/07 - Director ABC Commercial
Recognising the needs of young people who are moving out of home and regularly preparing their own meals for the first time, Council recommends that Delicious publish a lift-out booklet containing recipes for weekly meal regimens that:

• use a simple group of ingredients;
• are easy to prepare; and
• keep well in the fridge.

The lift-out could be aimed at the parents of these students and timed for the beginnings of semester, when young people tend to move out of home.

Choir of Hard Knocks
This short series was excellent television. Jonathon Welch deserves a medal for persistence. The ABC should be commended for presenting such an excellent program.

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Triple J
Supporting regional programming in the four AWOL concerts – at Humpty Doo, Karratha, Innisfail and Burnie as well as the One Night Stand concert at Cowra.

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Australian Story
For the handling of the cancer cluster story at Toowong – the Advisory Council commends Australian Story for the programs on the breast cancer cluster at the Toowong Brisbane studios. This has been a difficult and distressing issue for the ABC, and the excellent balance between the personal and the scientific made for informative, as well as interesting viewing.