ABC staff mixed on Sydney west relocation

The ABC's plans to relocate from its inner-city Sydney headquarters to a new site in Parramatta has garnered "mixed responses" from disgruntled staff members.

A parliamentary committee on Tuesday grilled ABC executives over their proposal to move more than 300 of 2000 Ultimo-based staff to western Sydney from 2024.

But the ABC board said the journalists and content producers who have been asked to move have mixed feelings about the plan.

"There are some people that are very happy about this and there are other people who aren't very happy at all," the ABC's managing director David Anderson said.

"I understand that concern, you build your life around your place of employment and it means great change.

"There are lots of concerns that have been raised with regard to that, that we're taking on board and considering very carefully."

In response, the ABC plans to subsidise child care and parking for some employees, and ensure there are enough car spots in Parramatta.

Some teams like the Sydney newsroom and daytime radio will permanently work from the west. Others, including ABC Radio National and Triple J will rotate between Parramatta and Ultimo depending on calendar events. 

However, the staff consultation process is ongoing and plans are not set in stone.

"We've got a lot more consulting to do but we are consulting in good faith and want to make this as painless as possible for people who are relocating out to Parramatta," he told the parliamentary hearing. 

The move is part of the ABC's five-year plan to better reflect Australia's diversity which Mr Anderson says is necessary to "stay close to the source of our stories."

"As Australia evolves, so must the ABC," he said.

"We're very confident that this investment will pay off for a better and greater ABC."

The national broadcaster said the relocation plan will not incur additional costs to taxpayers. 

Instead, ABC will foot the bill by sub-leasing seven floors of their Sydney CBD facilities in February.

Parliamentary approval will still be needed before the ABC can fit out the Parramatta facility.

Providing approval is granted, fit-out works will begin in early 2023 and staff will move in from 2024.

The public broadcaster recently had its funding cycle increased from three years to five years in the federal budget, to support its independence and long-term planning arrangements.