Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I think what I need is a Banana in Pyjamas to give me the energy to get over these contributions—and not just by the member who spoke before me! It's the triviality, the childishness and the tawdry nature of the motion that has been put before this Federation Chamber.

When I look at a motion like this, I say, 'Haven't the members opposite got anything better to do with their time than the virtue signalling to those people who want to engage in a confected fight and war to defend the ABC from the evil tyranny of those people who have criticisms of it?' I've got to tell you, Mr Deputy Speaker, that I actually like the ABC. There are products and content that I don't mind. There are programs where I sometimes say, 'I welcome that contribution to national public life.' It might be informative or educative and actually quite good. But it doesn't mean that I think the ABC is without criticism.

When it comes down to it, the ABC shouldn't be treated as some sacred cow that deserves protection above and beyond all other government agencies—untouchable by government, where they might actually, as part of the triennium of funding, occasionally have efficiency dividends or obligations. They do it to themselves; they find ways to make efficiency dividends so that they can provide new services and new opportunities to provide content. And I think there is an entirely legitimate case to criticise the ABC about its Sydney-centricity. I know that won't bother many of the members opposite, who like to represent the inner Western Sydney perspective of the world. But some of us come from other parts of Australia! Some of us come from other parts of the community, representing different values, different attitudes and, critically, different Australian stories.

That's where the ABC could do so much to help itself—to actually give voice to the lived Australian experience. To give voice to the voiceless—to those whose stories have not yet been written or told. The ABC could do so much to advance the cause of this Australia fair if they made sure that they gave every Australian the opportunity and the platform.

Let's just look at the Sydney-centricity of the ABC, where so much of its resources, its staff and its talent pool is poured into Ultimo to create a myopic and limited world view of this nation. Frankly, what we need in the ABC charter is more diversity. Yes, people always say, 'Diversity of opinion and political bias,' and all those sorts of things. But I'm talking about geographic diversity, and not just rural and regional Australia—although that is critically important. The ABC charter should actually recognise that there are other capital cities apart from Sydney. Melbourne is a capital city too, and so is Brisbane. So is Adelaide, so is Hobart and so is Perth.

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