NEWSFLASH: The best result for the ABC in over 20 years!
That’s what ABC Chairman Donald McDonald called this month’s budget announcement. Thank you to all Australians who came together to send a clear message of unity and support for our ABC’s future. The ABC will now get an extra $88.2 million over the next three years, and while these additional funds still fall short of the recommendations from the independent consultant KPMG, they far surpass anything experts were predicting seven weeks ago when we launched our campaign.
There is still so much we can achieve together, but we’ve now set the course for a stronger ABC.
We are at a turning point in the future of a fundamental and cherished Australian institution, the ABC. Right now, the Government is considering the ABC’s funding for the next three years. It is also trying to rush through legislation to abolish the staff-elected position on the ABC board, which will further undermine the ABC’s independence and integrity.
As it stands, the ABC is $264 million poorer in real terms today than it was 20 years ago. The programs we rely on – from independent news and current and affairs to quality children’s content – are under extreme pressure. In a very real sense, the integrity of the ABC is now at stake.
Let’s show politicians in Canberra that the ABC’s owners – the public – are prepared to stand up and defend it. For this to work, every signature counts. We’ve set a goal of 75,000 signatures. Will you – and your friends and colleagues – help us get there?
Dear Mr Costello and Senator Minchin,
We believe in the value of a well-funded and independent national broadcaster.
We understand that the ABC has asked you for a modest increase in funding to meet the demands of a 21st-century media outlet.
With a budget surplus of nearly $10 billion, funding the ABC is surely money well spent.