The ABC is suffering.
Our great public broadcaster’s problems are now obvious to all. After 10 years of punitive funding cuts, deficiencies have accumulated across news, current affairs and all specialist genres. Original content has declined dramatically.
All of us who want a strong, fearless, innovative and dynamic ABC must demand its restoration as a major influence in our national life. But the 2024 federal budget made no provision for rebuilding.
In earlier budgets, the Albanese government secured five year funding and indexation, but the increases it provided have gone nowhere near addressing the ABC’s depleted capacities. In fact, the opposite has occurred. More staff have been made redundant, favourite programs like The Drum have been scrapped, and we’re seeing more repeats.
With an election due by May next year we must make rebuilding the ABC a major federal election issue. That’s why I’m appealing directly to you.
ABC Friends was an influential voice at the 2022 election, helping elect candidates who championed the ABC. It can do this again in 2025.
ABC Friends has already begun planning its campaign. Through digital advertising, billboards, rallies, and direct communications with voters in marginal electorates, it will remind politicians that the job of restoring the ABC is not over – in fact, it’s hardly even begun.
But we can’t do this work without your help. It is up to us, the people of Australia, to fight for that outcome in the national interest.
Join us ... won’t you?
Quentin Dempster AM