The ABC will provide comprehensive coverage and expert analysis of the New South Wales Election campaign on radio, television and online. The election will be held on 22nd March.
For the first time ABC New Media will be offering election updates via SMS text message as the count unfolds on election night, as part of its SMS trial. Users can subscribe to receive text message updates, either in the overall count or for specific seats of interest. For more information visit http://abc.net.au/phone.
In the lead up to the election, 702 ABC Sydney will have extensive coverage of the campaign;
· Breakfast with Angela Catterns will feature Trevor Thompson’s daily Election Diary
· Mornings with Sally Loane will include regular updates with Antony Green, Tuesdays at 9.40am then, between 11am to 12noon the program will provide
statewide listeners with a forum for discussion on the Election and the issues it raises.
· Afternoons with James Valentine will chat with Quentin Dempster each Friday.
· Drive with Richard Glover will feature daily updates from State Parliamentary reporters as well as the weekly Politics Forum every Monday.
· Weekends with Simon Marnie will talk with Quentin Dempster about the campaign at 7.15am each Saturday morning.
· ABC Radio News reporters and 702 ABC Sydney reporters will also provide “electoral snapshots”, two-minute audio packages profiling issues and debates in different electorates.
* On Sunday 23 March at 8am, ABC Radio’s flagship current affairs program AM will broadcast a special edition – providing a national wrap of the NSW State
Election.
ABC Local Radio stations across NSW will also feature regular commentary and talkback on the status of local seats and issues, Local Breakfast and Morning programs will feature regular interviews with candidates, and Statewide Drive will provide listeners with regular campaign overviews.
From 6.10pm on election night, live from the tally room floor, 702 ABC Sydney’s Sally Loane and Trevor Thompson will co-host the radio broadcast on ABC Local Radio NSW and ABC News Radio. ABC Radio News’ John Thompson will also be providing updates and key figures on the half hour. And ABC Radio News reporters Nino Tesoreiro and Jean Kennedy will be on the floor of the tally room filing stories.
On TV, The 7.30 Report’s Kerry O’Brien and NSW Stateline presenter Quentin Dempster will host NSW Votes from 6.30pm on election night live from the tally room at the Homebush Sports Centre. The coverage will also include live crosses to candidates around the state and Maxine McKew will interview political identities on the tally room floor. The Labor Party panellist on the program will be Treasurer Michael Egan with the Opposition represented by Liberal frontbencher, Barry O’Farrell. Election analyst Antony Green will also feature on ‘NSW Votes.’
The NSW Votes special will also be broadcast on digital free to air television on channel 23, enabling anyone around Australia with access to digital television to follow the election night count.
Leading up to the elections, Antony Green’s news and the latest analysis can be found at ABC Online at http://abc.net.au/election. The site also provides breaking campaign news, an A-Z of electorates, summary of key seats and issues, a political pendulum and links to other related sites.