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Budget allocation for ABC, SBS.

ABC & SBS to get an extra $73.3 million over three years, but not everyone is happy.

ABC and SBS will get an extra $73.3 million over three years, announced in last night’s Federal Budget.

The funding announcement consists of:

• $43.7 million over three years from 2019-20 to the ABC to continue to support local news and current affairs services, particularly in regional areas; and

• $29.6 million over three years from 2019-20 to the SBS to guarantee the ongoing quality of its television, radio and online services.

ABC’s  funding for its “enhanced news measure” was due to expire in the coming year.

The ABC intends to maintain its staffing level at 4,180 for 2019-20. However, the Department of Finance has indicated it believes that number is too high, estimating the ABC should employ 4,130 people – equivalent to a reduction of 50 jobs.

But Friends of ABC say the allocation is a fraction of the funds lost under successive coalition governments.

“The Treasurer announced $ 7.1 billion surplus and $158 billion in tax cuts,” said ABC Friends National President Margaret Reynolds.

“What the ABC got was less funding.

“I suppose that shows where the ABC rates in this Government’s priorities,” she said.

Last year the government froze ABC’s annual funding indexation for three years from July 2019, effectively costing the organisation $84 million.

Save our SBS group was also disappointed in the Budget.

“SBS has not fared well in this year’s Budget. Over the next three years, SBS will receive an average of $295 million per year which includes almost $29.6 million over the period to ‘guarantee the ongoing quality of its television, radio and online services’, according to a statement issued by the Communications Minister, Senator Mitch Fifield,” the lobby group wrote on its website.

“This is a far cry from the boost in funding that SBS sought to commission more Australian content. Only two percent of SBS’s schedule comprises Australian drama. SBS had sought to increase Australian content to 30% in peak viewing.”

The funding for SBS does not address the $53.7 million cut from SBS by the Abbott government announced five years ago.

Tomorrow Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announces his Budget Reply.

6 Responses

  1. I wish to government understood that if there was more funding for the ABC, hosts would be way more happier and shows would be better. Currently, the number of people watching shows on ABC is decreasing while the number of shows that are being cut is increasing. We need better Australian shows, and only the ABC can fully give us that!

    Please, Liberal and Labor, give them more funding!

  2. Wow for SBS alone that’s a lot more British train, Royalty and sewer documentaries isn’t it ?
    Got to maintain the standards of that Charter don’t we ?

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