During a book presentation in Melbourne yesterday, the former chair of the consumer commission pointed out that the national broadcaster needs to have guaranteed funding over a five-year cycle, which would not be influenced by the government.
Mr Sims also went on to describe ABC as a “vital institution” which should, in no way, be forced to “narrow its focus.”
“Damage the ABC and Australia is damaged. That would represent poor economic and public policy,” Sims added.
Public funding has seen a significant drop towards the broadcaster in the last few years, with ABC losing over $500 million, which subsequently led to the loss of over 640 job positions. The recent budget by the Coalition saw the ABC’s funding drop back down to 2018’s levels.
Labour has publicly stated that they will extend the three year funding cycle towards both ABC and SBS to five, in an attempt to protect the two public broadcasters against “arbitrary ideological cuts and political interference”.
“The government of the day should seek to nurture the ABC. Who knows, they might even get better coverage, human nature being what it is,” said Sims.
“With all such public goods there is a certainty that public interest journalism will be under-provided if left to the commercial sector alone. Therefore, virtually all nations provide some level of public funding for journalism.”
Sims gave his speech during the launch event of Matthew Ricketson and Patrick Mullins’ new book titled ‘Who Needs The ABC?‘, which celebrates the 90 years of the national broadcaster by delivering an “impassioned defence” as to why it is still necessary in this day and age.
