Heartland – The bush loves its ABC

• ABC crucial voice in rural and regional Victoria

Independent Member for Indi, Cathy Mcgowan AO, welcomes the Australia Institute report, Heartland – the bush loves its ABC, released today.

Ms McGowan congratulated the research Molly Johnson for the comprehensive report. The conclusions show there is exceptionally high support for increasing funding to the ABC to improve regional coverage.

“The ABC is highly regarded and trusted in Indi and has very strong support,” Ms McGowan said.

“It’s crucial the ABC has the resources to cover local news, issues and programs, particularly during times of disaster.

“I call on the Government to continue working closely with the ABC, and provide the funding that is necessary for the ABC to deliver the coverage people in rural and regional Australia expect.”

• Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist

Aired many times on the ABC over the years, Yes Minister, featured an MP, then Prime Minister, terrified of making a ‘courageous’ stand or decision.

Polling across both regional and urban Australia reveals that attacking the ABC would be ‘very courageous’ politics, particularly for those representing bush electorates.

Targeted funding of ABC regional services is politically popular with the majority of Australians supporting additional funding of both regional news services (59 per cent) and programs about regional Australia (55 per cent). Expanding ABC funding for regional news services is almost universal among Labor and Greens voters, with support amongst Coalition voters varying across electorates. (See tables below)

“Regional media is viewed as an essential democratic institution by regional Australians, with 95 per cent accessing some type of local content each week,” Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist said.

“It’s not just entertainment; it’s also an important source of news, weather, and emergency information. It contributes to a sense of community and identity within a region.

“However, regional media is in decline in Australia with a third of regional areas failing to meet the minimum requirements of media diversity under the Broadcasting Services Act.

“There is evidence that the ABC may be failing to fulfil its governing charter to provide adequate services to regional Australia. Additional targeted funding could help address this.

“The public wants more regional news, and as taxpayers they’re willing to pay for it.

“Recently there has been a loss of regional commercial media in many areas. Without a well-funded ABC, we’re simply letting the bush go dark.

“Cuts to the ABC are unpopular everywhere, but it’s regional Australia that gets hit hardest,” Oquist said.

Figure 1: Support for additional ABC funding – Regional news services

Source: Australia Institute survey (n=1,413)

Further polling by The Australia Institute shows that support for expanding ABC funding for regional services is almost universal among Labor and Greens voters, with support amongst Coalition voters varying across electorates.

Figure 2: Support for additional funding – Programs about regional Australia

Source: Australia Institute survey (n=1,413)

Full Report available here:

http://www.tai.org.au/