Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend motion No. 243 standing in my name.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) since 2013, more than $300 million has been cut from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) by the Coalition Government,

  (ii) the ABC has confirmed it will not buy the non-commercial rights to next year's Olympic Games in Tokyo, meaning there will be no live broadcast for the first time since 1952, and

  (iii) the ABC has cited 'budget pressures' as being behind the decision; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to provide stable and adequate funding to the ABC.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government agrees that it should provide stable and adequate funding to the ABC, and that's why, over the triennium, the government is providing $3.2 billion to the ABC. The ABC has content and operational independence. Parliament supports this independence so that decisions made by ABC are free of political interference. ABC content and expenditure decisions are a matter for the ABC board and management.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In August 1991 Labor communications minister Kim Beazley said he was 'getting a bit tired of the campaign regarding ABC funding'. 'Whatever is occurring inside the ABC is a product of choices it is taking itself,' he said. The ABC has let us down, yet everyday Australians can access the Olympics in many other ways. A recent ABC efficiency study identified a number of areas for significant operational savings without affecting programs. To everyday Australians, this sounds more like the inability of ABC managers to manage than a need to cut programs. The ABC should look to its own backyard first. It should not condone the pro-violence opinions expressed on Q&A last week calling for political violence, including murder and arson. The ABC is not exempt from delivering an efficient service, and whatever is occurring inside the ABC is a product of choices it is taking itself. We oppose this motion.

Question agreed to.