Most of the jobs will be lost in Melbourne where the Asia Pacific News Centre (APNC) is based. Staff working across TV and radio will be affected, including journalists, producers, technical and communications staff.

With no voluntary redundancies on offer, all the redundancies will be forced, a decision that has infuriated the union representing ABC workers. Some staff may be redeployed in other roles.

Affected ABC staff said on Monday they were ''stunned'' by the number of redundancies, which was more than had been expected.

The government announced in the May budget it would scrap funding for the Australia Network, $223 million over 10 years and cut the ABC's general budget by $35.5 million over four years.

Television broadcasting into mainland Asia will cease but the ABC plans to broadcast six hours a day of repackaged television content into Pacific countries under the Australia Plus brand. APNC correspondent positions in Delhi, Jakarta, Beijing, the Pacific and Parliament House will be scrapped.

The ABC News 24 program Business Today will be discontinued as will the Radio Australia programs Asia Pacific and Asia Review.

Community and Public Sector Union president Michael Tull said he was disappointed the ABC was using forced redundancies and left open the possibility of a Fair Work Australia challenge.

''We are very disappointed that up to 80 people will be sacked,'' he said.