2025-04-13
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young spoke at the ABC Friends rally in Sydney where she outlined the Greens plan to “Trump-proof” the ABC.
The plan includes:
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Restoring all funds cut from the ABC since Tony Abbott’s 2014 cuts.
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Supporting the ongoing sustainability of the ABC by legislating funding.
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Ensure the ABC’s independence by establishing a non-partisan process for appointing board members.
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Legislating to prevent iview from ever being sold off or placed behind a paywall.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Communications
“The Greens will shield the ABC from Trump-style attacks, including protecting its funding and keeping iview free to watch.
“We will protect the public’s free access to iview in law, stopping any future government from putting it behind a paywall or selling it off.
“We know that we can’t trust Peter Dutton with our ABC. He has already indicated he would cut jobs from the ABC, who knows what else he will cut if he can get his hands on it.
“Unfortunately Labor has failed to restore the funding the Liberals cut last time they were in charge. Labor just doesn’t have the spine to do what’s needed on their own. Polling opens in a week and we’ve heard nothing from Labor.
“It's in the Coalition’s political DNA to attack and undermine the ABC. While Peter Dutton is fixated on how to attack the ABC next, the Greens will fight for a fully-funded and independent public broadcaster.
“In an era of both misinformation and increasing natural disasters fuelled by the climate crisis, a well-resourced and independent ABC has never been more important.
“We know Coalition Governments come in ready to privatise and sell-off whatever they can. We will ensure that they cannot sell-off or put ABC iview behind a paywall. As more and more people consume their content online, this is an absolutely essential part of the ABC.
“The Greens have a plan to fully fund our ABC, including returning money that was cut during the Abbott and Morrison era and ensuring that there is appropriate funding for emergency broadcasting. Funding must be legislated so it is not subject to the whims of the government of the day.
“We must protect the ABC from more Trumpian cuts, and you can do that by voting for the Greens.”