Forum –
Prime Minister Joseph Lyons’ government established the ABC on 1 July 1932, delivering radio across the country, and 24 years later Prime Minister Robert Menzies on 5 November 1956 launched ABC television just in time to deliver coverage of the 1956 Olympic Games.
Under its charter, the ABC is required to provide “innovative and comprehensive broadcasting services of a high standard across Australia”.
“It is also required to transmit news, current affairs and entertainment programs outside Australia”.
With this glittering history from predecessors, why on earth is today’s Liberal Party hell-bent on destroying OUR ABC by creeping starvation of funding from OUR taxes?
How would we know what’s going on in the world if it wasn’t for Four Corners, the daily news and analysis and informative programming on Radio National, 7:30, The Drum, science programs, Foreign Correspondent, arts and music and much more?
How would we have survived the catastrophic bushfires last summer without the ABC?
Expert medical advice during Covid-19?
The much touted $1B in annual Government funding actually amounts to less than $880M in unindexed operational funding once fixed transmission costs are deducted.
Moreover, per capita funding for the ABC is among the lowest of any public broadcaster in the western world.
Importantly, PM Menzies saw direct influence in other countries, particularly the Pacific, as pivotal to Australia’s security – why on earth did the Liberals abandon the ABC’s in-depth coverage and create a vacuum for China to fill?
Poll after poll has shown the ABC is the most trusted institution in Australia.
Yet another 250 jobs will soon go.
Parliamentarians’ salaries have kept up with inflation – why shouldn’t the ABC?
So, Lucy Wicks, in the coming budget, waive the $84M indexation freeze, increase funding to this crucial pillar of our democracy, and let the ABC get on with doing its most valued work: informing and uniting citizens.
I would have thought in today’s fractured world, this is priceless.
Email, Sep 27
S. Young, Bensville