The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the country’s principal public-service broadcaster, has withdrawn from several prominent LGBTQ+ and diversity partnerships, citing concerns about editorial independence and expenses.

In an internal announcement first reported by The Guardian, the ABC confirmed it would discontinue memberships with ACON’s Pride in Diversity programme, the Australian Disability Network, and the Diversity Council of Australia following a review of its external affiliations.

The broadcaster stated that these arrangements were “no longer providing sufficient value” and stressed a renewed focus on maintaining impartiality. An ABC spokesperson told The Guardian the organisation would “always invest in these fundamental principles” and would instead redirect funding towards internal initiatives.

ACON, a leading Australian not-for-profit, delivers health promotion, HIV prevention, and community support services for LGBTQ+ people. Its Pride in Diversity programme is a national, membership-based initiative designed to help employers improve inclusion through training, guidance, and benchmarking tools such as the AWEI.

For years, right-wing media outlets and anti-LGBTQ advocacy groups have fought back against ABC’s involvement in ACON’s Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), which ranks organisations on inclusion and diversity performance.

 The ABC’s coverage of LGBTQ+ issues, including marriage equality, its involvement in Mardi Gras, and inclusive programming, particularly in children’s content, has drawn criticism from conservative commentators and advocacy groups. Liberal senator Alex Antic previously described the broadcaster as a “publicly funded propaganda outfit” in response to a drag queen reading segment on TV programme Play School.

The Australian broadcaster’s decision to cut LGBTQ+ and diversity partnerships has also sparked concern internally. LGBTQ+ staff members at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation spoke anonymously to Star Observer and expressed disappointment at the move and its implications for workplace support.

“It makes me feel really undervalued as an ABC employee,” they told Star Observer. “It seems odd they would promote they are supportive of people who are queer to work here by asking if they are part of the LGBTQIA+ community when hired, when they are dropping sponsorships for the groups we could go to for support.”