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

That is incorrect, Senator McCarthy. As I indicated, the decision by the ABC was one of the board and management; it was not one of the government. It is in no way related to the level of government funding. That is not a claim or a contention that the ABC has made.

I indicated that I would talk a little about transitional arrangements. This may be of assistance to Senator McCarthy and colleagues. The ABC is donating VAST satellite units to all Royal Flying Doctor Service bases and four-wheel drive radio clubs based in the affected region, which will allow the rebroadcast of emergency or warning messages. The ABC has also advised that its local radio service can be received by the majority of people living in the Northern Territory through AM and FM terrestrial transmissions and is also available by satellite via the free-to-air viewer access satellite television service, known as VAST, online, and with the ABC's mobile apps. (Time expired)