There are growing calls from political and media figures to privatise - or even abolish - our ABC, including a campaign recently launched from the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).
And the ABC was only narrowly spared a hostile Senate inquiry that ABC Chair Ita Buttrose called “an act of political interference designed to intimidate."[1]
Our ABC sustains us as our most trusted source of news. It entertains us with the best local content. And it saves us from deadly disasters. Can we imagine going through the bushfire or Covid crises without it?
And yet, our ABC has been under sustained attack through $783 million in budget cuts since 2014, forcing losses of jobs, programs and services.[2]
As the federal election approaches, political candidates are paying close attention to the views of the Australian public. For all of us who trust, treasure and rely on our ABC, it’s a critical moment to call on them to secure the funding and independence of our ABC.
Sign the petition to restore and secure our ABC today.
Note: Some people are experiencing technical difficulties when attempting to sign the petition. We are working to address the issue and we apologise for any inconvenience.
References:
- "ABC chair Ita Buttrose accuses Coalition of ‘political interference’ and ‘intimidation’", The Guardian, 14 November 2020.
- “ABC loses $783m funding since 2014 when Coalition made its first cuts – report”, The Guardian, 4 May 2020.