Sydney – Mark Scott, managing director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, has laid out a vision for the international future of the ABC, which is the parent organisation of Radio Australia and Australia Network. It includes consolidating the broadcaster’s presence in the Asia Pacific region, as well as rolling out new services in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Scott said it will take major investment, but he is hoping to convince the government it is a significant part of Australia’s soft diplomatic efforts. Under the plan, the Australia Network television service and Radio Australia would be merged into one brand, new bureaus would be opened in key countries, and eventually the ABC would provide content in Arabic to the Middle East.