‘Express Yourself’: Protest Bangers Fill ABC Airwaves as Strike Shuts Down Broadcaster

ABC bosses have been left bamboozled after protest songs hit the airwaves, as they spent the early hours of the broadcaster's first strike in 20 years seemingly underprepared and overwhelmed by the task of running the broadcaster without union staff.

At midday, Triple J staff walked off the job, switching the station over to a pre-prepared playlist of music.

Mornings presenter Lucy Smith ended her program with an explanation of why staff at the ABC were striking and said that Triple J would be playing a predetermined playlist of music for the next 24 hours. At 11am, staff walked out and Express Yourself by N.W.A played.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks, a relative newcomer to the public broadcaster, might not be aware of the significance. In 1990, The song was played on a loop for 24 hours, after ABC management told the station to stop playing N.W.A’s Fuk Tha Police. The choice was a reminder of a time when staff took management on and won.