Motion – Defending the ABC from funding cuts
The Abbott Government has cast further doubt on the Prime Minister’s pre-election commitment to maintain funding to the ABC and SBS.
In direct contradiction of statements made on the eve of the election, the Coalition today voted against a Greens motion to maintain funding and cease interfering in the editorial independence of the broadcaster.
Greens spokesman for Communications Senator Scott Ludlam demanded the Government protect funding to the ABC in the upcoming May budget and cease threats to the ABC editorial independence.
Senator Ludlam also called on the Government to release the 2006 KPMG efficiency report commissioned by the Howard Government by March 3, which was also denied by the Abbott Government.
“On the 6th of September, on the eve of the election, Toby Abbott promised not to cut funding to the ABC and he has now broken that promise,” said Mr Ludlam.
“The ABC is Australia’s most trusted news and current affairs broadcaster and is an extremely well loved national institution.
“We know that independent opinion polls regularly reveal high levels of public satisfaction with the broadcaster.
“The last time the Coalition was in power, they put the ABC on a starvation diet when in 1998 they imposed an 11 per cent cut under Prime Minister John Howard.”
• Vision of Abbott’s pledge not to cut funding to the ABC and SBS:
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/06/no-cuts-abc-or-sbs-abbott