Dr June Factor
President, Friends of the ABC, Vic.

What does the election mean for Friends of the ABC? Amidst the turmoil and shouting, the arguments over tax, the environment, Wik, industrial affairs, health - the countless public concerns that will be debated during the election campaign - how can we make sure that the survival of the ABC is not an issue drowned out in the hullabaloo?

The first most critical point is to remind people that the existence of an independent national broadcaster is an essential prerequisite for the integrity of the debates.

Where else are policies presented and elaborated in depth, explored, contested, challenged, - on a daily basis? What other media so consistently offers coverage of controversial issues in a "professional, fair" manner, in the words of Professor Philip Bell, Head of Media and Communications at the University of NSW, who recently investigated the ABC's coverage of the national waterfront dispute (and found the ABC's performance unbiased: fair and balanced).

With no private axes to grind, no hidden commercial or political interest, beholden neither to government nor commerce, the ABC alone can afford to ask politicians the hard questions, investigate beyond the quick television grabs and the media releases. Without the ABC, our democracy would be sadly diminished.

We know that the political parties, and many individual politicians, are already acutely aware that the ABC is an important election issue for a large number of Australians. The growth of FABC - from 300 to more than 6,000 in 2 years in Victoria alone - is impossible to ignore. Then there are the opinion polls, which consistently indicate massive support for an adequately resourced and truly independent national public broadcaster.

As yet, we have not seen any detailed party policies on the ABC, though these are certain to be presented soon. We will evaluate them carefully and make our responses known to FABC members and to the general community. Bitter experience with "core" and "non-core" promises from political parties has taught us to be wary of warm generalities: we are seeking specific, detailed, costed commitments to maintaining and strengthening the ABC.

A specially prepared questionnaire will be sent to all candidates in marginal electorates. Their answers will be tabulated and the information made available to the media. Citizens who care about the ABC - 85%, the polls say - will no doubt use this information when determining their voting preferences.

Politicians' responses to the FABC questionnaire may well influence the results in many marginal seats.

FUNDING

The ABC has lost 12% of its budget in 2 years: $66m. Its staff has been reduced by 20%. Cuts to programs and services have been severe and damaging - and continue. Radio Australia has been crippled, and can no longer be heard on short-wave in most of Asia. (You can obtain a leaflet from FABC detailing these cuts.)

The ABC asked the government for a modest proportion of the cost of going digital: $44m for production facilities and $40m for transmission. The total cost is estimated at $180m. The government's response; $20.8m over five years.

INDEPENDENCE

The Broadcasting Act 1983, including the Charter of the ABC, makes the national broadcaster an independent statutory authority. Ministers cannot command the ABC, nor can advertisers or sponsors. The ABC's independence is its essential core characteristic, marking it our from all other media in Australia.

Governments traditionally do not like independent institutions; they like obedience, "co-operation", control. So the ABC Board is vulnerable to political stacking when appointments are made, and ABC management and staff to public and private threats. This government has already signalled its intention to change the ABC's charter, and the Prime Minister is on record as desiring "maximum ministerial direction" of statutory authorities (Sydney Morning Herald, 6.3.97).