Shadow Communications Minister Jason Clare has hit out at cuts to the ABC and SBS, saying Tony Abbott is continually breaking promises.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull appeared last night on ABC’s Q&A program, where he confirmed that both the ABC and SBS are facing budget cuts of up to 5 per cent.
This comes on top of cuts made before the release of the federal budget, where a further 4 per cent was taken from the ABC budget, including their Asian branch, Australia Network.
“The night before the election he said that there would be no cuts to the ABC, and no cuts to SBS… It’s a rolled gold broken promise, it’s a half a billion dollar promise,” Mr Clare said.
Mr Clare stated that cuts like these were becoming an “issue of trust” and that the Prime Minister was becoming a “serial offender”.
“The only thing that you can trust is that Tony Abbott will break his promises,” the Shadow Minister said.
However, according to the ABC’s own figures, the Coalition have kept more promises than they have broken.
The government believes that cuts to the ABC and SBS should not affect programming or resources. Minister Turnbull told the ABC last night that he went to “considerable pains” to protect program quality.
“Anyone here who is in business, who has been in business, particularly anyone who has been in the media business, in the private sector, that could not manage to find 5 per cent out of efficiencies is not even trying.”
Mr Turnbull stated that cuts should come from administration and back of house, without affecting programming.
Mr Clare disagreed saying that these systems are too connected.
“Half a billion dollars’ worth of cuts to the ABC will mean not just back office cuts, but hundreds of people getting the sack, and lots of terrific programs getting the axe.”
“Tony Abbott has broken more promises than Pinocchio. If you put him on a lie detector, it would blow up,” says Mr Clare.
The Shadow Minister warned the government about their actions, suggesting Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s 10 point lead indicates the instability of the government’s position.
“It [the ABC] is a lot more popular that this Liberal government is. And they need to be wary of that when they take the axe to ABC and SBS.”
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