TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
MEMBER FOR GREENWAY

STATES TURN TO ABC FOR EDUCATION

The value of a trusted national broadcaster has once again been affirmed with State Governments turning to the ABC to support education provision during the Coronavirus crisis.

Yesterday the ABC announced that, working in partnership with states and territories, and with initial financial assistance from the New South Wales and Victorian education departments, it will provide curriculum-aligned content and mini-lessons for primary and secondary school children over its ABC ME television channel and make them available on ABC online and catch-up platforms.

This will support children’s home-schooling, particularly the three per cent of Australian households with children under the age of 15 who do not have internet at home.

It will also complement the ABC’s existing suite of educational programs and resources which Australian children know and enjoy.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is placing the education system, teachers, parents, carers and children under great pressure.

Ensuring every family with children has quality resources to support continuity of learning is a challenge for which the ABC is uniquely placed to assist, given its Charter obligations to provide programs of an educational nature.

Labor congratulates the ABC for innovating to support young Australians at this time of unprecedented uncertainty.

There can be no doubt. From drought to bushfires, floods and now coronavirus, the extraordinary events of 2019-20 reveal how reckless, ideological and short-sighted calls to cut or privatise the ABC are.

THURSDAY, 2 APRIL 2020