MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

GOVERNMENT IGNORES FACTS ON ABC EMERGENCY BROADCASTING
 

The Government is prepared to recognise that the ABC’s emergency broadcasting costs will increase but is not prepared to reverse its cuts to ABC funding.

Yesterday in the Senate, there was no opposition to Labor’s motion recognising that:

• the whole of agency impact of the unprecedented bushfire season requires a significant commitment from the ABC,
• the cost of the ABC’s emergency broadcasting comes out of its funding, and
• more frequent and intense climate change events means there will be increasing need for emergency broadcasting by the ABC.

This comes off the back of remarks by the ABC Managing Director, David Anderson, two weeks ago, that the unprecedented bushfire season requires a whole of agency response that impacts the ABC’s already stretched resources in other key areas.

Members of Parliament across the political spectrum have acknowledged and commended the ABC for its emergency coverage during the condolence motion on the Australian bushfires this Parliamentary sitting week.

Despite the outstanding efforts of ABC staff, many of whom came off leave to ensure Australians were kept informed and up to date over the summer, 200 ABC staff will soon be out of a job as a result of Scott Morrison’s cut of $83.7 million.

Sackings are no way to thank ABC staff for their service to the nation, and no way to ensure the ABC will continue to meet its Charter obligations in the face of more frequent and intense climate events.

The Morrison Government must face the facts about climate change, put its money where its mouth is when it comes to the ABC, and start governing for all Australians.