Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed further cuts to the ABC, but said they shouldn’t affect programming during his appearance on the broadcaster’s Q&A program on Monday.
He declined to confirm media reports forecasting up to $300 million in cuts to the broadcasters, instead stating that the cuts to the ABC would be around 5 per cent.
“I have gone to considerable pains to ensure that the ABC is well able to deliver these savings without cutting into the resources available to programming, through cutting back office costs, administrative,” he said.
“Anyone here who has been in business ... that could not manage to find five per cent out of efficiencies is not even trying.”
The cuts, which Mr Turnbull said he would clarify further in coming days, follow budget losses outlined in the May federal budget.
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Mr Turnbull’s comments followed a report on ABC’s Media Watch program, which reported that between 400 and 500 jobs were expected to be lost from the broadcaster before Christmas.
Host Paul Barry reported that state-based 7.30 programs would be axed, while up to 20 jobs would be lost from foreign bureaus.
Lateline was also reported to be facing cutbacks.
