For almost 90 years the ABC has provided reliable, accurate and relevant news and entertainment for millions of Australians.
The ABC consistently is rated as the most trustworthy news source for Australians with over 17 million Australians consuming some sort of ABC content every week.
However in recent times we’ve seen the foundations of the ABC come under consistent attack.
Since 2014, there has been $282 million in cuts to the ABC that has seen 800 jobs lost and a drop in Australian content and services.
In an era of global competition, media consolidation and fake news, the need for an innovative, comprehensive and independent public broadcaster only gets stronger.
This was evident with over 100 local residents attending the ‘Future of the ABC and Public Broadcasting’ community forum at the Jindalee Golf Club on Friday July 13th.
Like many communities around Australia, we heard from many locals who said that the ABC was their ‘go-to’ choice for news and entertainment and that it must be protected well into the future.
This is why I’m proud to say that I’m a strong supporter of the ABC and would back in an alternative government to reverse the latest $83.7 million unfair cut to the ABC, as well as guarantee funding certainty over the next ABC budget cycle.
This will ensure our public broadcaster can meet its Charter requirements, safeguard jobs at the ABC, adapt to the digital media environment and maintain content and services that Australians trust and rely on.
Our local community and millions of Australians are tired of the continued attacks on the ABC.
The ABC is for all Australians, across metropolitan, regional and rural areas. We must protect and strengthen this.
Now, more than ever, Australians need the ABC – our strong, trusted and independent public broadcaster.
