Forum –
On May 11, 2021, the Federal Budget will be handed down.
The October Budget 2020 did not contain any recognition of the ABC’s outstanding community service during the bushfires and COVID-19 and projected funding figures in the Budget papers show an ongoing decline in funds allocated to our national public broadcaster.
When I wrote to my local member, Lucy Wicks, regarding reduced funding of the ABC, it took me three different attempts, the first in September 2019, before I had a response dated February 3, 2021.
I quote from her reply: “It is not true that the ABC’s budget has been cut.”
Working carefully through the rest of the response, I find it simply impossible to believe Ms Wicks because 30 years ago, then ABC Managing Director David Hill reminded us that the ABC cost taxpayers just eight cents a day.
Unfortunately, in 2021 the ABC is allocated only four cents a day to work in a seriously more challenging competitive and technological environment.
Remember the old saying “you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear”.
No cuts, Ms Wicks?
Who’s being fooled?
Email, Apr 12
Gillian Telford, Booker Bay