$90 Million new home for ABC Melbourne

A new Melbourne headquarters is to be established for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy said the Government would provide the ABC with a loan of $90 million to assist the construction of a purpose-built facility at Southbank.

“The new headquarters will house the ABC’s radio, television and digital production operations, as well as its broadcasting and support services,” Senator Conroy said. “The ABC is currently spread across three sites in Melbourne: two at Elsternwick and one in Southbank.  By consolidating operations, it will allow the ABC to achieve operational savings and productivity benefits that will ensure it can continue delivering high-quality content across a broader range of platforms.”

He said the ABC had grown into a multi-platform media organisation, which delivered a range of news, current affairs, sport, and entertainment programs that were accessed by millions of Australians every day.  “The new facility will help the ABC meet its needs into the future,” he said.

Senator Conroy said the loan, to be repaid by 2020-21, would support the construction and fit-out costs of the new facility and the ABC would fund the remaining project costs from its existing resources.