18th Jun 2013, 4:02 PM – Senate Motions - Public Broadcasting - Properly fund ABC and SBS

The majority support Greens Senator Scott Ludlam's motion that all parties should maintain funding to ABC and SBS and ensure their political independence.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) 80 per cent of Australians surveyed believe the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is balanced and even-handed when reporting news and current affairs and 83 per cent of Australians regard the ABC to be distinctively Australian and contributing to Australia's national identity,

(ii) the motion put to the Victorian Liberal Party Council conference on 25 26 May by the Warragul branch, urging an examination of the feasibility of partial or full privatisation of the ABC and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) was deferred to the next conference, and

(iii) That the ABC and SBS are vital public news, information, education and entertainment services for the benefit of citizens and audiences rather than advertisers and shareholders; and

(b) calls on:

(i) the Liberal Party to categorically reject the motion put by Warragul branch, and

(ii) all parties to commit to maintaining the ABC and SBS as properly funded public broadcasters with independent boards free from political interference.