Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Abetz. I remind the minister of the Prime Minister's pre-election promise of 'no cuts to the ABC'. Can the minister confirm—

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, on my right!

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that the Prime Minister has agreed to an additional cut of $207 million to the ABC budget in addition to the already announced cut of $47 million and the axing of the Australia Network? Minister, has the Prime Minister kept his promise?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was indicated to me earlier that we might get a question of this nature, and I will pass it to Senator Fifield to answer.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because you can't defend the Prime Minister's broken promise.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, on my left!

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition never said that the ABC or SBS would be immune from savings. On this side of the chamber we are very strongly and consistently of the view that every Commonwealth government department and agency—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock. Order! Minister, you have the call.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

should seek to be the best possible stewards that they can be of precious taxpayer dollars, which is why Minister Turnbull commissioned the efficiency review. The efficiency review found that there were indeed savings that could be found at the ABC and SBS without impacting on programming, without impacting on quality. Minister Turnbull has announced today that, in view of these findings, the government will reduce funding to the national broadcasters by $308 million over five years. That is $254 million for the ABC and $53.7 million for the SBS. I will give you an important statistic in a moment.

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I note the Minister representing the Prime Minister was unable to defend the Prime Minister's commitment before the election.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A question, Senator McEwen?

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can either Senator Abetz or the Minister representing the Minister for Communications confirm that, as a result of these cuts to the ABC, Adelaide's ABC studios will be shut, state based 7.30 programs will be axed and up to 500 people could be sacked by Christmas?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think colleagues know well that decisions regarding which efficiencies will be implemented and when are matters for the SBS and ABC boards, but the statistic that I knew you were waiting to hear from me and which I will share with colleagues is that, over the next five years, the public broadcasters ABC and SBS will receive $6.6 billion of taxpayer funding. I think it is important that I share with you something from Minister Turnbull's speech today in relation to the issue of programming, which I know frequently comes up. He said:

There is a temptation for management to blame the Government for some of these program changes. That would be cowardly.

The ABC management know that they can meet these savings without reducing the resources available to programming…

We know that and the ABC know that. (Time expired)

Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. What other ABC programs, services and jobs, including in regional Australia, will be sacrificed on the altar of the Prime Minister's broken election promise?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government cannot direct the ABC what to do with their funding. ABC and SBS management know very well, following the completion of the efficiency process, that they can improve their operations without compromising programming. I think you would know that, if the ABC want to make programming decisions to adjust to viewing and listening trends, to respond to the media cycle, to ensure that they are not overservicing an audience in a particular drama or to shift their resources to target online or mobile content, that is a choice for them. I do not think any of us on this side really believe that ABC programming is set in concrete forever and will never be altered. Of course ABC programming changes; it is always changing. That is a decision for management to ensure that they are honouring the ABC charter, and the taxpayers are giving very generously to the ABC and SBS to see that they can fulfil their obligations. (Time expired)