MANSFIELD HIGHLIGHTS GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL BLACK HOLE ON ABC: PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO SUFFER

The Challenge of a better ABC, the report prepared by Mr Bob Mansfield into the future of the ABC will require the effective support of the Coalition Government if the Australian people are to benefit from a restructured ABC, the national committee of Friends of the ABC said in Canberra today.

Friends of the ABC congratulate Mr Mansfield for recognising the clear importance of the ABC to Australian cultural, political and social life - both in the bush and in the cities and towns.

Importantly, Mr Mansfield has recognised that the ABC must remain free of advertising and sponsorship and that it must continue to provide programs across the content spectrum (that is, remain a comprehensive broadcaster).

The element missing in this report is funding: funding for providing services to regional Australia; funding for Australian content; funding for the use of Australia's creative resources.

To make the changes required to protect the ABC from arbitrary funding cuts, Mr Mansfield has constructed an accounting pack of cards. In fact, Mr Mansfield implicitly recognises that the ABC cannot meet the programming and technical challenges that it faces without additional monies.

The strategy recommended by Mr Mansfield (sell-off property, contract-out all programming, close down Radio Australia and keep the proceeds) depends on a Government that is prepared to be generous in its financial treatment of the ABC.

To date, this Government has only shown a disposition to terminate the ABC with extreme prejudice.

The Minister for communications and the Arts Senator Alston now has to prove to Australians that he is prepared to deal decently with the ABC.

In particular, he has to guarantee that:

• $55 million stripped from the ABC's budget will be restored;
• funds released from internal reorganisation will be retained by the ABC;
• that the ABC will not be required to pay an efficiency dividend in future years;
• that the Government will put in place mechanisms to guarantee the shift to digital will not compromise the quality and quantity of Australian drama.

It is to Mr Mansfield's credit that he has learnt so much about the importance of public broadcasting in such a short space of time.

Now it is up to the Government to indicate that, on this issue, it is capable of learning at all.

Further comment:

Penelope Tolz (NSW): (02) 9960 5542
June Factor (Vic): 0419 557 844
Janet Powell (Vic): 019 161 305
Euan Miller (South Australia): (06) 257 4810
Chas Savage: (06) 257 4810

24 January 1997