The ABC and SBS say many of the major recommendations of Peter Lewis’s efficiency review are unworkable and too costly to implement by the public broadcasters.
Both have privately expressed their scepticism at much of the draft review and one of its key recommendations — the co-location of ABC and SBS facilities and staff in Sydney and Melbourne — which senior sources say is impractical and unable to be achieved without tens of millions of dollars of additional costs.
The Lewis review said the co-location in Sydney and Melbourne was “worthy of in-depth analysis by the broadcasters”.
“There’s a lot of nonsense around and a lot of harebrained ideas,” said one senior executive, who did not dismiss the entire review, saying it contained many workable suggestions.
It is understood SBS staff are particularly miffed many current or proposed efficiency measures have been co-opted by the Lewis review and, consequently, savings SBS had budgeted to reinvest will now be eaten up as savings for government.
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