This election is occurring against a backdrop of anxiety and consternation that’s ripping through the democratic world we have known all our lives and largely taken for granted.
Here in Australia, our governments have often left us frustrated, even angry, but we’ve always assumed that the fundamental principles underpinning our democracy and protecting our way of life would remain sound.
The ABC has always been there for us as a part of that bedrock. We’ve seen it attacked time and again, but although it’s been knocked around, and suffered savage funding cuts it’s always emerged to repair and rebuild.
In these crazy times we can’t assume that any more. In Trump’s America we’re watching an unprecedented savage assault on mainstream media including public broadcasting, along with the judicial system and other democratic institutions.
In our country, when the role of strong public broadcasting in this age of misinformation and political manipulation is demonstrably more important than at any other time in our history, the ABC is under attack again. We can no longer make any assumptions about its long-term survival.
Those conservatives who irrationally see the ABC as their enemy are lining up again. There’s talk of more “efficiency” inquiries and more funding cuts. Again. And the Murdoch media is also on the attack in lockstep. Again.
That’s why we’ve launched our biggest ever campaign of support for the ABC, targeting key election battlegrounds, putting the pressure on all political candidates to declare their position on the ABC.
The election is now in full swing. The clock is ticking. We've built our most ambitious counter-offensive yet. But we can only succeed with your financial support.
The ABC needs all of us now more than ever. Please help power a strong campaign for the ABC this election.
Donate today and help secure the ABC for future generations.