The PBS editorial board has stopped Lou Bondi from producing a programme on the budget tomorrow, opting to keep the traditional budget analysis in the hands of the station’s newsroom.
The issue arose after Bondi announced last Monday that his next programme would tackle the budget, shortly after the prime minister makes his annual budget speech in Parliament.
But the PBS newsroom was up in arms after learning that Bondi was about to take over one of the few events it is traditionally responsible for analysing, at a time when it has no current affairs programmes of its own.
The editorial board was asked to intervene by the station’s management, especially in the light of the preparations that were going on even at the time of Bondi’s announcement.
“Last Wednesday we decided that the budget programme should be held by the PBS newsroom as usual,” said Acting Editorial Board Chairman Dominic Fenech when contacted.
The station has also informed the Broadcasting Authority that its newsroom will be responsible for the broadcast.
PBS veteran journalist Reno Bugeja will present the programme.