Independent ABC is needed
For the last 15 years, the ABCs independence has steadily lost ground.
However, the severe funding cuts since 1996, the appointment of four cronies of the Prime Minister to its Board, and the appointment of a former Liberal Party staffer without public broadcasting experience as managing director, has certainly accelerated this development.
Scores of quality staff have either been forced out of the ABC in recent months or have left voluntarily.
Our ABC, a public broadcaster of top quality by world standards, the custodian of much of the nations best cultural and artistic achievements, a great technological innovator, an incubator of talent often recruited by commercial stations to their advantage and, in particular, the voice of real and informed political scrutiny, is being disembowelled.
There is no clear indication that the ALP would turn the tide.
We have not heard any definitive statement from Mr. Beazley that a huge recovery plan for the ABC is in place should the ALP win the election.
What else can Australians expect from the two-party tyranny?
For the last 15 years, the nation has been subjected to their economic rationalist policies and compliance with globalisation.
This has meant widespread privatisation, the introduction of Competition Policy, and the commercialisation of a host of government services, including universities.
It has also meant a staggering growth in inequality of incomes, the emergence of an underclass, and a widening divide between country and city.
An independent ABC, free to fearlessly question such un-Australian trends, does not accord with global corporate designs.
In contrast, the private sector media have generally gone along with economic rationalist policies and globalisation, their editorial attitudes reflect such values.
Compliance is mostly justified by the claimed "inevitability" of this development.
Inevitable? Not at all.
We need the Independent ABC, in all its dimensions, more than ever to counter the snow job.
Dr Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach