It will matter to the ABC who is elected on Aug 21

It will matter to the ABC who is elected on Aug 21

‘The good news, bad news and the unknown’ is the unofficial name Friends of the ABC has given its 2010 election report. The report is based on feedback from the extensive questionnaire FABC sent to major parties and candidates to ask what they would do for the ABC if elected.

“The Coalition’s response on ABC funding is very worrying,” said Glenys Stradijot, a spokesperson for Friends of the ABC (Vic). “The Coalition has promised only that it would not cut funding already committed to the ABC.”

“That’s not reassuring, particularly in light of the Coalition’s record on the ABC when it was in government last time. Friends is concerned at what may happen when the ABC’s current round of funding expires in 2012.”

Tony Abbott and many of his present team were key ministers in the Howard Government which cut appropriations to the ABC and later interfered by directing funding to particular areas of the broadcaster’s operations.

“In contrast, the Greens proposal for a per capita funding model indicates an interest to secure the ABC’s financial future.

“Friends welcomes the Greens having placed on the political agenda a funding method that would ensure the national broadcaster is adequately resourced and stop governments from interfering in the ABC’s operations by withholding funds.
It believes that all politicians and aspiring politicians who appreciate the importance of Australia’s independent public broadcaster to our democracy and culture should support the Greens proposal.

“The Labor Government has not revealed its plans for the ABC if re-elected. Instead it only provided to FABC a statement of its record in government. Labor’s positive actions in its first term in office – increased funding and a halt to the stacking of the ABC Board – were heartening. Its failure to address questions asked of it about the ABC’s future is disappointing.

“We don’t even have an assurance that Labor would reintroduce its Bill for a new merit-based system of appointments to the ABC and SBS boards and to restore the staff-elected director position on the ABC Board. Friends believes the staff director is an important counter to governments that stack the Board and ensures at lease one member of the board with public broadcasting experience,” said Glenys Stradijot.

A copy of FABC’s 2010 election report is attached.
FABC_Election_Report_16_Aug_2010.pdf
Friends of the ABC