“The Liberals have to learn, ‘Hands off the ABC’”: Labor promises $40m funding boost

Staff Writer

Labor has promised to increase government funding of the ABC by $40 million if elected this weekend.

Addressing the media at a pre-election event in Melbourne on Saturday, ALP leader Bill Shorten labelled the commitment an “investment”.

“A strong quality national broadcaster does require resources,” said Shorten.

“The government would criticise this cost. I call it an investment.”

ABC Alumni and ABC Friends organised the event, with invites from both sides of politics. But Scott Morrison, Mitch Fifield and Michael McCormack did not attend.

The new multi-million dollar promise is in addition to Labor’s plans to squash the $84 million indexation pause imposed by the Coalition government.

Also in attendance on Saturday were Tony Burke, Senator Kristina Keneally, Fiona McLeod, Sarah Hanson-Young, Kerry O’Brien, Maxine McKew, Quentin Dempster, Dr Gael Jennings and John Cleary.

ABC

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Jason
14 May 2019 - 5:51 pm

I hope this includes reintroducing shortwave services, or putting in place some high powered AM transmitters (the regulator would prefer SW though)

Greg
15 May 2019 - 11:53 am

So the ABC is above regulation and doesn’t need to be answerable to anybody? Wonder what the return on that investment will be?

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