Australians who live in country, regional and urban areas, and who depend on the ABC to provide quality services and programs, are the big losers from the Howard Government's decision to break its clear election promise to 'maintain existing level of Commonwealth funding to the ABC'.

The fact is that this Government has torn up its Better Broadcasting promises and that the listeners and viewers of the ABC will be the worse for it. Australians now know that the Howard Government is pursuing a deliberate policy to decimate ABC programming and reduce media choice.

The cuts made to the ABC budget for 1997-98 effectively mean a weakened Australian media voice and the further concentration of media in the hands of only a few players. Cuts mean we are, as a nation, committing cultural hari-kari.

Seven out of ten Australians are opposed to cuts because they understand what they mean: reduced levels of Australian drama; reduced levels coverage of sporting events; cuts to science, comedy and news and current affairs programs; and a reduction in the quality of programs broadcast.

The cuts made by the Howard Government mean that the ABC staff, the intellectual lifeblood and heart of the organisation, will be forced onto the scrapheap. cuts mean that an additional 400-600 staff will be forced out of the ABC - and with them will go irreplaceable productioin skills and talents and knowledge and expertise.

Right around Australia, in every state and in every territory, Friends of the ABC are asking only for what is right and for what is popular - the full implentation of the Coalition's Better Broadcasting policy.

13 May 1977

Further Information:
Chas Savage: (06) 257 4810
(Acting) National Spokesperson

PROMISES, BETTER BROADCASTING AND THE ABC

PROMISE 1. LEVELS OF FUNDING

'The Coalition will maintain existing levels of Commonwealth funding to the ABC. We will continue to support triennial funding which has allowed the ABC to plan for the future with a greater degree of financial certainty.' (A PROMISE BROKEN)

PROMISE 2. REGIONAL BROADCASTING

'The Coalition will encourage the ABC to adopt staff, capital and programming resources policies which will more adequately represent the geographical spread of its national audience. This will enable the ABC more effectively to fulfil its Charter responsibilities to all Australians and provide enhanced career opportunities for its 5,000 plus staff.' (A PROMISE BROKEN)

PROMISE 3. AUSTRALIA TELEVISION (ATV)

'The ABC's international satellite television service, Australia television (ATV), provides a golden opportunity for Australia to establish itself in the Asia Pacific region as a high quality, independent, international news and current affairs broadcaster.' (A PROMISE BROKEN)

PROMISE 4. RADIO AUSTRALIA

'The Coalition is strongly supportive of Radio Australia's existing services and will ensure that they will not be downgraded in any way.' (A PROMISE BROKEN)

PROMISE 5. TRIPLE J

'We will encourage and support the ongoing expansion of ABC Radio, including the extension of the highly successful Triple J network into regional Australia.' (A PROMISE BROKEN)

PROMISE 6. TRANSMISSION FACILITIES

'The Coalition sees no valid reason why the national broadcaster should not have control over their transmission facilities...Accordingly, the Coalition will fund the ABC directly for its transmission costs.' (A PROMISE BROKEN)

PROMISE 7. FRIENDS OF THE ABC

'The Coalition welcomes their (Friends of the ABC) views and will continue to encourage them to take an active interest.' (A PROMISE BROKEN)