
Dispatches from the Picket Line: Behind the ABC Strike
From Fourth Estate by 2SER
April 3, 2026 · 45 min
About this episode
This episode explores the recent ABC strike, its causes, and implications for the future of the organization.
More than 2,000 ABC staff walked off the job in the broadcaster’s first strike in 20 years. While the dispute centred on pay, progression and job security, it also exposed deeper concerns about culture, leadership and editorial independence. In this episode of Fourth Estate, Tina Quinn speaks with current and former ABC journalists, including Michael Slezak, Fran Kelly, Quentin Dempster, Emma Field and Scott Mitchell, to unpack what led to the strike — and what it reveals about the future of the organisation. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at fourthestate@2ser.com or tweet us at @fourthestateau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Tina Quinn
Guests: Michael Slezak, Fran Kelly, Quentin Dempster, Emma Field, Scott Mitchell
Topics covered
- journalism
- labor strikes
- media culture
- editorial independence
- ABC
Keywords
- ABC staff strike
- pay dispute
- job security
- leadership concerns
- future of journalism
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Behind the ABC Strike, Fourth Estate
More episodes of Fourth Estate
- The Stories We Tell Ourselves: China, America and Australian Self-Reliance · June 5, 2026 · 1h 8m
- Sarah Wilson on Complexity, Collapse and Making Art in the Apocalypse · May 28, 2026 · 1h 7m
- One From the Archives: Sophie McNeill and We Can't Say We Didn't Know · May 21, 2026 · 42 min
- Red Scares: The Budget and the Backlash · May 14, 2026 · 1h 4m
- Blunt Tools: Rate Rises and Media Tropes · May 7, 2026 · 1h 1m
- A Woman Who Won: Antoinette Lattouf on Taking on the ABC — and Winning · April 30, 2026 · 49 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Fourth Estate podcast page.