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Election 2007: Where Do They Stand On the ABC?

What the Parties Say About Funding

Australian Democrats

“The ABC should be in a position to produce high quality local material. It should be funded at the base level of funding before the Howard Government cut 12% from the ABC’s budget in 1996.

“Funding should be on a recurrent basis, not ‘one-off’.”

Democrats’ leader, Lyn Allison, Sept 2007.

Australian Labor Party

“Over time I envisage a major investment in the ABC. The only way to get Australian voices and stories in the new world of converging media is from the ABC.”

ALP Shadow Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, Sept 2007

Greens

The Greens support a funding increase to restore cuts made since 1996.

Liberal Party

A pre-election promise of the Liberal Party in 2004 was that it would inquire into the adequacy and efficiency of ABC funding.

What happened? The Government has never released the recommendations of that review. It took place, conducted by KPMG. It is reported that KPMG recommended increased ABC funds of $125.8m over three years, just to maintain current projects.

In 2006, the Coalition Government gave the ABC an increase of $88.2m dollars for the next three years. The increase was very welcome, but why restrict it to three years?

What the Parties Say About an Independent ABC Board

Australian Democrats

“No-one in Parliament has been as vigilant as the Democrats in urging a transparent and merit-based appointments procedure”.

Democrats’ leader, Lyn Allison, Sept 2007.

Staff elected Director: It is important to have staff represented on the Board. We support the restoration of the position.

Australian Labor Party

The ALP Platform (2007), paragraph 58, sets out:

“a new ABC Board appointment process in which board members are appointed on the basis of merit. Candidates will be considered by a panel established at arm’s length from the minister who will appoint Board members from a shortlist prepared by the panel …

“the staff elected commissioner position on the ABC board which was abolished by the Howard Government will be reinstated.”

Greens

Support an independent ABC Board at arm’s length from the government, along the lines of the British “Nolan Rules” model.

Support the reinstatement of the staff-appointed position on the ABC Board.

Liberal Party

Retain the present system of ABC Board appointments.

Under the Coalition Government, the following appointments have been made to the ABC Board:

Janet Albrechtsen (2005 – 10)
Steven Skala (2005 – 10)
Peter Hurley (2006 – 11)
Keith Windschuttle (2006 – 11)
Re-appointed was John Gallagher (2005 – 08)
Chairman Maurice Newman was appointed in January 2007

Legislation to abolish the position staff elected Director passed both Houses in 2006, after the Coalition gained control of the Senate. Quentin Dempster is now “staff elected director in exile”.

What the Parties Say About No Ads on Our ABC

Australian Democrats

Oppose the introduction of any commercial advertising on ABC radio, television or websites. They fear that creeping commercialism, of which the threat of advertising is only a part, is corrupting the ABC as an independent public broadcaster.

Australian Labor Party

“will ensure that the ban on advertising remains in place. Labor will also ensure that advertising is not permitted on ABC branded websites”. (ALP Platform, paragraph 59)

Greens

Oppose commercial activities which risk the ABC’s editorial independence and therfore do not support commercial advertising on ABC radio, television or websites.

Liberal Party

Minister for Communications, Helen Coonan, thinks that advertising on ABC TV and radio is “something that we can look at down the future” (The Bulletin, 21 March 2006)

Helen Coonan also thinks that if the Board wanted to consider some form of advertising, consistent with the ABC Charter, for the next triennium, then it could do so (AM, 15 March 2006)

“Discreet and regulated advertising” on ABC radio and television could fund more local drama (suggested by Backbench Communications Committee Secretary, Senator Gary Humphries, October 2005 when the ABC’s triennial funding was being determined).