Joint with Richard Marles MP, Member for Corio, and Libby Coker, Labor Candidate for Corangamite.
A Shorten Labor Government will invest $2 million in the ABC to improve its facilities in Geelong; which will support increased on-the-ground reporting and help serve the rapidly growing population in South West Victoria.
This election is a clear choice. Australians can have a strong and independent ABC under Labor, or a Liberal Government. They cannot have both.
The ABC plays a vital role in regional and local communities, as a source of information and as a platform to foster greater connection within and between communities.
Labor’s investment will assist the ABC in realising its plan to expand multiplatform coverage for communities in regional Australia, recognising Geelong as an underserved area.
This investment would provide capital funds for the ABC to use to enhance its coverage for Geelong and the Surf Coast and surrounding region.
Increased local reporting helps communities engage at the local level, as well as support their voice in national conversations.
This investment is in addition to Labor’s $13 million commitment to bolster ABC regional news and emergency broadcasting and create a News Literacy Program, as well as to reverse Morrison’s unfair cut of $83.7 million.
The Liberals and Nationals came to power on the promise of “no cuts to the ABC”. That was a lie. Since 2014, the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has slashed ABC funding and launched the biggest attack on ABC independence in a generation.
Enough is enough. 17 million Australians consume some form of ABC content every week. In regional Australia in particular, the ABC plays a vital role in keeping regional communities connected with local news and emergency information.
After six years of the Liberals and Nationals’ cuts and chaos, Labor will restore funding certainty to the ABC to ensure our public broadcaster can meet its Charter requirements, safeguard jobs and maintain content and services that Australians trust and rely on.
Member for Corio Richard Marles welcomed this investment and said proper funding of the ABC will build capacity and enhance local reporting for South West Victorians.
“Labor will always stand up for the ABC and investment in our region.”
Libby Coker, Labor’s candidate for Corangamite said that now, more than ever, Australians need the ABC, our strong, trusted and independent public broadcaster.
“Corangamite is a vast area that relies on the ABC for local content and emergency broadcasting. Improved coverage in the region will provide Corangamite residents with trusted news that is local and current.”
Only Labor will support and maintain the ABC as our comprehensive, independent national broadcaster because we will make multinationals pay their fair share and close tax loopholes used by the top end of town.
End the cuts and chaos. Vote for change. Vote for Labor.
