Carol Stuart, National Vice President of ABC Friends, reports on a successful visit to Canberra, with a flurry of advocacy activity, a special showcase, and an additional $50 million in government funding for the ABC.
ABC Friends was among those who last week welcomed the Government's announcement of an additional $50 million in funding over three years to support the production of new Australian children’s and drama content.
The Friends said the new funding is a “shot in the arm” for the ABC. It’s an investment in our national identity and in Australia’s future as a creative, innovative nation.
ABC Chair Kim Williams said: “On behalf of the ABC, I warmly thank the government for confidently investing in the national broadcaster. I particularly thank our Minister, the Hon Anika Wells, and the Arts Minister, Hon Tony Burke who have long championed Australian content. I also thank Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who has supported Australian creativity tirelessly in the Senate.
“We are all indebted to them for their meaningful advocacy on social cohesion and the vital part original Australia content plays in building our national identity.
“The ABC has the privilege and deep responsibility of national storytelling in the public interest, from the youngest audiences across generations of Australians.
“We have long been an integral part of the nation-building infrastructure of Australia.”
As it happened on Thursday morning representatives of ABC Friends were in Canberra continuing to lobby for more funding to offset the cuts which over the decade to 2022 have led to massive reductions in Australian content produced by the ABC. Recent government funding increases and policy decisions have helped, but the ABC still needs increased funding to participate in an expanding local content market, enable Australians to have a range of viewing options, and continue to provide a free, comprehensive service.
Cassandra Parkinson, Dr Michael Ward and Carol Stuart (L-R)
National president of ABC Friends Cassandra Parkinson, Chair of ABC Alumni, Dr Michael Ward, and myself held meetings with Ministerial and departmental advisers, to continue to press the case for a strong and independent ABC to ensure that Australians can see, hear and watch more Australian content on the free to air public broadcaster.
Showcase ABC talent
We were also invited to attend the 2025 ABC Showcase at Parliament House, Canberra, attended by more than 200 ABC presenters, parliamentarians and content producers, alongside some of the ABC’s most beloved characters, Bluey and Bingo, and Play School stars.
ABC is our cultural consciousness – Minister
Communications Minister Anika Wells told the Showcase generations of Australians have been partly formed by the ABC’s children’s programs, including Play School which turns sixty next year. Most adults have looked through the Play School windows in their youth.
“The ABC has never been under greater attack than it is now,” she said. “I’m proud to be part of the government that has fought for the ABC.”
In December last year the government contributed another $86 million to ABC funding. She was speaking before the announcement of a further $50 million to be delivered over the next three years from 2026-27, released the following day.
Democracy celebrated in ABC programs – Chairman
Chairman of the ABC Kim Williams told the gathering democracy matters, and he said it was important to acknowledge that our democracy is celebrated in Annabel Crabb’s new program, Civic Duty.
He said the ABC stands firm as Australia’s most trusted media organisation. We all believe deeply in the authority and accountability of Parliament, he said. Parliamentary broadcasts are something the ABC takes very seriously, the first one taking place on 18 May 1945.
The ABC is the home of Australian stories and provides critical information in time of emergencies, most recently during Cyclone Fina, which hit Darwin last week. (See firsthand account in this e-news here).
The chairman said the ABC also strengthens community connections throughout rural and regional Australia and the Asia Pacific and gave a big shout out to the country hour which turns eighty this week.
“Our investment will continue enthusiastically”, he said.
ABC ambitious to do more – Managing Director
ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks told audiences in Canberra and Melbourne that he is ambitious for the ABC to do more, especially by producing more local content for kids shows, drama and documentaries.
He was keynote speaker at ABC Friends’ annual dinner in Melbourne on Friday 21 November, attended by more than 130 Friends members and supporters
He told the Showcase he and Play School were birthed together – each turning 60 next year.
“We know how important the ABC is to how we see ourselves as a nation,” he said.
It is a force for cohesion, not division. It can help guide national stories with knowledge, clarity and cohesion.
This year the ABC has increased its TV output by forty per cent – with more content, kids’ shows, more drama and more docos.
It can and will do more for local communities which will be another big focus of 2026.