A Newspoll survey has found that seven out of ten Australians are opposed to the Federal Government's $55 million funding cut to the ABC. Less than ten percent of those sampled supported the $55 million cut.

The poll also found that 71 per cent of Australians would be concerned over reductions to ABC programs and services.

The poll, taken over the weekend of May 2-4, showed that opposition to the $55 million cut was highest among Democrat voters with 92 per cent of Democrats opposed to the the $55 mllion cut.

63 per cent of Coalition voters were opposed to the financial cut, while 68 per cent of the same group were either 'very concerned' or 'somewhat concerned' over reductions in the ABC's programs or services. The figures were 80 per cent and 74 per cent respectively for ALP voters.

The ABC Board has already announced that if the full $55 million cut were to proceed, then programs and services - such as national radio networks, local sport coverage, cuts to news and current affairs programming - are likely to be axed.

The poll shows that just days before the Budget there is widespread opposition among the public for the government to proceed with its funding cuts to the ABC.

The survey was commissioned by the three ABC unions: Community and Public Sector Union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, and Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia.

For further comment contact:

Graeme Thompson CPSU (02) 9334 9200

Emma Walters MEAA (02) 9333 0974

Martin O'Connell APESMA (02) 9264 9500

The three ABC unions welcomed the poll's findings and called on the Government to honour its election promises to maintain funding for the ABC.

The president of the Friends or the ABC, ACT and regions, Chas Savage, said the figures 'were consistent with previous research, which showed a very high level of support for the ABC among the Australian community'. (The Canberra Times, 10 May, 1997, p3.)