The ABC Alumni have produced an informative paper on the current state of ABC funding.  While not excessively long (10 pages) it provides a clear analysis of ABC funding since 1984, plus compelling arguments for why the ABC should be funded appropriately.  This article makes it clear what that appropriate funding should be, and why.  For access to the article, click on Following the Money: An Analysis of ABC Funding.

In addition to the points made in Following the Money, it is worth considering (i) what the revenues of both ABC and commercial networks are, (ii) and what the ABC and other networks provide on the basis of that revenue.

The revenue for all media organisations ultimately comes from the Australian public; either through a component of government taxation or a component of the cost of goods & services purchased by the Australian public.  That is, those goods/services which are advertised on the commercial networks.  Then consider what the ABC provides in terms of (i) TV, radio and internet, and (ii) the informational and cultural validity of the material provided.