Interesting quotes from Hansard

The following was said by Sen Alston at the ABC Senate Inquiry hearings 14/12/94 and is quoted from the Hansard Record page 294 and 295 (Mr Cox is a media commentator who gave evidence and the "Chair" is Senator Alston ):

Quote:....

" MR COX - I do understand the opposition's objective of reducing the budget of the ABC, and I am sure that-

CHAIR - Hey, just a minute.

SENATOR BOURNE - I think you should correct that.

MR COX - Reducing the increase of it ?

CHAIR - No, no. Prior to the last election, we had an across-the-board, 10 per cent cut which happened to apply to the ABC as well. Since that time, we have said, on many occasions, that we no longer favour any cut to the ABC budget, and we would at least maintain it. I am glad we have had the opportunity to clarify that.

SENATOR CHAMARETTE - It is very nice to have that on the public record.

MR COX - Nobody can say that we did not achieve something out of this hearing ! "

etc.......

CURRENT SENATE HANSARD

2 May 1996, Page: 287

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Senator CHAMARETTE (Western Australia) (5.12 p.m.)

"I asked Senator Alston to repeat the comments
that he had made to me in response to my
concerns that, in the lead-up to the previous
federal election, it had been quite clearly
stated by the former leader of the Liberal
Party, John Hewson, that de-funding, or
reducing the funding, or not continuing in the
same volume the funding of the ABC, would be
considered.
Senator Alston quite specifically repudiated
that previous stance of the coalition. He said
that there was no question of lowering the
level of funding, that it had put those
troublesome policies behind it, that it wanted
to have nothing to do with them, and that he
would guarantee to Senator Bourne and me
personally that the only interest the then
government had was in a constructive support,
a continuing support, of the ABC. I am sure
Senator Bourne can bear out that conversation
that occurred between the three of us..."