Letter sent to Media Watch on 08.12.25
Concern Regarding ABC’s Financial Commitment to ACON and the AWEI Awards – Request for Investigation and Disclosure
Dear Media Watch Team,
I am writing to express my concerns about the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) ongoing alliance and financial commitments to the AIDS Council of New South Wales (ACON), particularly through its Pride in Diversity program and the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) awards. As a taxpayer-funded public broadcaster mandated to uphold impartiality under its charter, the ABC’s deep involvement with ACON raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, especially given recent reports of the ABC achieving “platinum” status in the AWEI.
The AWEI, administered by Pride in Diversity (a division of ACON), serves as a benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. While promoting diversity is commendable, the process to achieve high-tier recognition—such as gold or platinum—appears to involve a significant financial outlay. Organisations must typically join as members of Pride in Diversity to access the AWEI submission without additional fees, with membership costs reportedly around $12,000 annually for principal partners like the ABC. Non-members face separate charges for participation, and additional expenses may arise from training, consulting, and policy implementation required to score highly on the index.https://prideindiversity.com.au/awei/submission/faq/
Historical records, including a 2020 invoice, indicate that the ABC has paid at least $11,000 to ACON for such services.https://aconexposed.org
Critics argue that this financial relationship may compromise the ABC’s editorial ‘independence’, particularly on sensitive topics like transgender rights, where ACON advocates specific viewpoints.
Your own program previously examined this partnership in 2022, highlighting the ABC’s participation in the AWEI and prompting responses from both parties. However, with the ABC’s recent elevation to platinum status amid ongoing debates about media activism, it is timely to revisit this issue.https://www.afr.com As a public institution, the ABC should be transparent about its expenditures.
I urge Media Watch to investigate and request a full financial disclosure from the ABC regarding all payments made to ACON or Pride in Diversity over the past five years. This should include breakdowns of membership fees, training costs, consulting services, and any other financial contributions tied to achieving and maintaining AWEI awards. Such transparency would help assure the public that taxpayer funds are not unduly influencing journalistic integrity.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to seeing it addressed in a future episode.
Sincerely,
Ms A. Marian