Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McCarthy for her question. For those colleagues who may not be au fait with this issue, the ABC discontinued in its Northern Territory domestic and international shortwave transmission services on 31 January. Shortwave services are those that reflect off the ionosphere, and that provides both deliberate and fortuitous coverage for people.

The Northern Territory shortwave service was the ABC's only remaining domestic service in Australia utilising this technology. Comparable remote areas in Queensland and Western Australia do not have access to ABC shortwave services. It used to be common around the country but, progressively, over the best part of about 10 years, these services have been discontinued.

I should make clear that this was a decision made by the board and management of the ABC. As colleagues would be aware the ABC has legislative independence—independence that this parliament has given them—in relation to operational matters. I should also point out that the ABC's decision is in no way related to government funding. The ABC's base funding was confirmed in the last budget for the next three years.

The ABC's view is that the validity of this particular technology is something that has been eroded over time, that it provides a poor-quality service, and that the cost, in the view of the ABC, is disproportionate to its maintenance. I will have some further things to say, no doubt, in response to Senator McCarthy's next question.