Cost of production for the Q+A program
Dear ABC FOI team,
I hereby submit a request under the FOI Act for the following document/s:
1. Documents pertaining to the total cost of production for the Q+A television program from 2008 to 2025.
I am happy for a document to be created which satisfies the request. I agree to administrative release of the requested information if this would assist the ABC in processing the request.
Warm regards,
Daniel
Good morning Daniel,
ABC FOI 202425-149
The ABC acknowledges receipt of the below freedom of information request received Friday 27 June 2025 seeking access to:
1. Documents pertaining to the total cost of production for the Q+A television program from 2008 to 2025.
A decision on the request is due to be made by Monday 28 July 2025, subject to any extensions of time for consultation or by agreement. The ABC will advise if any processing fees apply.
Further, if this request is considered too large to process under s 24 of the FOI Act, the ABC will contact you about a request consultation process regarding the scope of the request.
By making a FOI request, you are providing personal information to the ABC. The ABC manages personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy - available at ABC Privacy Policy – ABC Help - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Help Centre. Personal information may be disclosed in the course of processing this request, such as for the purposes of consultation or internal reporting.
Thank you,
ABC FOI Team
02 8333 3317
ABC FOI 202425-149
Good afternoon Daniel
The Finance team has got back to us to let us know that due to various
complexities, this information is not currently held in a single document
and it would be a substantial diversion of resources to try and create a
document for you. This is particualrly because of the long period of time
you have nominated.
Insteaad, the ABC is able to provide you with a document that already
exists. This would be to advise the average cost of producing a Q&A
episode (either from an ABC studio or on location).
Would you kindly advise whether you are happy to revise your scope to
receive this information instead?
If we do not hear from you in time, we will issue a formal decision over
the first scope.
We are happy to discuss if you would like to call. Ideally, if you can
email or call by Thursday, that would be great as this decision is due on
Monday.
Many thanks,
ABC FOI team
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Hi team,
Happy to accept the document listing the average cost as you've proposed.
Given the document already exists and the offer to provide it to me, I would ask if it can be released administratively. This would save time and resources that the ABC would need to spend on writing a formal decision. I would be happy for the ABC to consider my FOI request withdrawn upon the administrative release of that document.
Yours sincerely,
Daniel
ABC FOI 202425-149
Good afternoon Daniel
Confirming the ABC has updated the scope of your request to seek: the average cost of producing a Q&A episode (either from an ABC studio or on location) as noted in an existing document held by the ABC.
This information is attached as administrative release. We understand you have now withdrawn your FOI request having received the information. Before we mark the file closed as withdrawn, would you kindly email back to confirm your agreement to this.
Many thanks,
ABC FOI team
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians
and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee. It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.
ABC FOI 202425-149
Good afternoon Daniel
Confirming the ABC provided you with the attached document on Friday on that basis you suggested the file be closed agreed as withdrawn.
As you have not yet replied as requested, we attach the following letter confirming the file is now closed as withdrawn as you have received the information informally outside of FOI.
Many thanks,
ABC FOI team
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians
and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
This email, including any attachments, is intended only for the addressee. It is confidential and may contain privileged information. You should not read, copy, use or disclose it, or take any other action in reliance of the information contained in this email, without authorisation. If you have received the email in error, please immediately let the sender know by separate email or telephone and delete the email from your system.