Aunty pulls TV van out of Queensland When Q&A host Tony Jones left Queensland, so too did the ABC's Brisbane-based outside broadcasting van - but the national broadcaster insists there will be no change to how it covers live events in Queensland. The Community and Public Sector Union has questioned the move in light of the ABC's recent budget boost, but a spokeswoman for the broadcaster said its coverage would continue to expand. Outside broadcast vehicles, also known as OBs, act as mini studios, allowing for quick editing, production and broadcasting of events. In the past, the Queensland van has been used for Q&A, sporting events such as the WNBL and election coverage. Following the May 13 Q&A broadcast from the ABC's South Bank studios, the Queensland van was moved interstate as "backfill" for a Sydney-based van which is undergoing a high definition refit. An ABC spokeswoman said the broadcaster had not yet decided on whether the move would be permanent. "The vans move around according to the operational requirements of the ABC," she said. Technology has developed that we now bring Queenslanders news, information and events live and on location, without a van. Two very recent examples include in the last week of April, when Karina Carvalho presented the 7pm ABC News bulletin on location in north Queensland and in the first week of June 612 ABC Brisbane will broadcast live from Ipswich State High School.  The spokeswoman said the van was used 10 times last year, seven times covering sporting events, twice for Q&A and Anzac Day. She said it would be sent back to Queensland when needed and no events would suffer. But CPSU Queensland regional director Bill Marklew said the Queensland van was an important tool in covering events and sports neglected by the commercial stations. "There is a void there that will probably widen," he said. The major concern is it is a mobile professional studio control room that can be set up in very quick notice and it is a capability we no longer have up here. Mr Marklew said Tasmania had also recently lost their OB van and said it was "illogical" for the ABC to be limiting its resources. But the ABC's spokeswoman said the broadcaster had "overhauled its news operations in response to changing audience behaviour" and remained committed to delivering news, current affairs and live events to Queensland. "The ABC will use additional funding received in the budget on Tuesday night to expand investment in Queensland by creating 12 new specialist reporters and improved technology including extra camera and linking gear into Mackay and Maroochydore for even more regional and local news," she said. The ABC recognises that Logan and Ipswich are among the fastest growing population areas in Australia. That is why we have committed to opening a new bureau in Ipswich, ensuing more local reporting, more analysis and more stories that matter to Queenslanders.