The findings of an independent Roy Morgan national opinion poll, commissioned by ABC Friends Victoria, serve as a warning to the Government that voters have had enough of budget cuts to the national broadcaster. Successive Governments have reduced ABC funding by a total of $783 million since 2014.
The findings of an independent Roy Morgan national opinion poll, commissioned by ABC Friends Victoria, serve as a warning to the Government that voters have had enough of budget cuts to the national broadcaster. Successive Governments have reduced ABC funding by a total of $783 million since 2014.
The survey shows Australians overwhelmingly turn to the ABC in times of crisis—underlining the national broadcaster’s critical role in the bushfire crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The poll found that 71% of adult Australians value the ABC for its independence and 77% say they can rely on it for accurate information. There is little support for claims that the ABC is biased: only 13% do not value the ABC for its independence and only 12% disagree that it can be relied on for accurate information.
49% of people told the pollsters that Government funding for the ABC should be increased, 27% believe funding should be maintained at current levels and only 9% support further cuts.
"Budget cuts threaten the very ABC services that Australians value – crisis information, news and current affairs, educational children’s programming, the Arts and quality drama."
"There is strong community support for the ABC across the community. Voters of all political persuasions value the ABC – something the Government should consider as it plans the Federal Budget. The ABC’s performance during the bushfires and the COVID-19 crisis was exemplary and came at great cost. The ABC should be strengthened in the Budget, not further slashed."
CALL TO ACTION
We ask all our members and supporters to contact the Prime Minister and the Treasurer, calling for a halt to further cuts, including the $84 million indexation cuts which, if not withdrawn, will cost another 200 ABC jobs – on top of the huge cuts already imposed since 2014.
Contact the Prime Minister here and the Treasurer here
Read the full Roy Morgan report here
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