Urgent: Hands Off Our ABC!
BREAKING: "... One Nation clinched a deal for the biggest assault on the ABC's independence in decades." -- Andrew Tillett & Max Mason, Australian Financial Review, 15 August 2017
Our research shows that the ABC is Australia's most trusted broadcaster [1]. At a time when so-called 'fake news' is at an all time high and journalism jobs are being cut across the country, has there ever been a greater need for a strong, independent and trusted national broadcaster?
The Federal Government has proposed legislation to relax restrictions on who can own and operate newspapers, TV and radio stations in Australia. Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has reportedly proposed that ABC funding should be cut as a condition of its support for the legislation.[2]
There are some that are even suggesting that the ABC should be restricted in its online and digital content. In an area where people are increasingly accessing their news and media in this way, this would be a recipe for disaster and a roadmap for irrelevancy for our national broadcaster[3].
It's not too late. The Government still needs the support of other Senate crossbenchers. They do not have the numbers in the Senate with just One Nation.
Don't let the Coalition and One Nation's Senate deals hurt the ABC: no cuts to ABC funding and no restrictions on ABC online digital content. Add your name to the growing call to tell them: Hands off our Aunty!
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[1] 2013 Australians trust ABC over commercial media http://www.tai.org.au/content/survey-results-australians-trust-abc-over-commercial-media
[2] 2017 South Australians want more funding for ABC: poll http://indaily.com.au/news/local/2017/07/13/south-australians-want-funding-abc-poll/
[3] 2016 I want my ABC (and SBS and NITV) http://www.tai.org.au/content/new-report-examines-risks-and-potential-benefits-public-broadcasting-rationalisation
Don't let the Coalition and One Nation's Senate deals hurt the ABC.
Dear Coalition and Senate Crossbench --
No cuts to ABC funding and no restrictions on ABC online digital content.
Hands off our ABC!