When 8-4=0: 'No cuts' to ABC budget
On May 11, the Federal Budget will be handed down.
The October Budget 2020 did not contain any recognition of the ABC's outstanding community service during the bushfires and Covid 19, and projected funding figures in the Budget papers show an ongoing decline in funds allocated to our national public broadcaster.
When I wrote to Member for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks, our Local Member, regarding reduced funding of the ABC, it took me three different attempts, the first in September 2019, before I had a response dated 3 Feb 2021.
I quote from her reply: "It is not true that the ABC's budget has been cut."
Working carefully through the rest of the response, I find it simply impossible to believe Ms Wicks because 30 years ago, then ABC managing director Mr David Hill reminded us that the ABC cost taxpayers just eight cents a day.
Unfortunately, in 2021 the ABC is allocated only four cents a day to work in a seriously more challenging, competitive and technological environment.
Remember the old saying: "You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear."
"No cuts" Ms Wicks?
Who's being fooled?
SOURCE:
Email, 8 Apr 2021
Gillian Telford, Booker Bay