The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) has urged the government to keep SBS and the ABC separate after Prime Minister Scott Morrison's refused to rule out a merger between the two broadcasters.
Chairperson Mary Patetsos called for Australians to support the broadcaster to make sure the nation's diversity is reflected in the broader community.
“The essence of our diverse Multicultural Australia can be enjoyed every day on SBS television, radio and online broadcasting,” she said in a statement.
“Our political leaders should ensure the continuation of SBS as a public broadcaster in its own right.
“SBS reflects the diversity and enrichment of Australia from decades of immigration.
Former PM Malcolm Turnbull set up the review. Source: AAP
“We call on all Australians who are committed to the future of a vibrant and vigorous SBS to join us in our support of the broadcaster.”
On Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had refused to rule out merging the ABC with the special multicultural broadcaster SBS, despite the merger idea being outside the scope of an ongoing government review.
He was asked if he would consider a merger and responded that he would “wait and see” what the government’s efficiency review says.
“I’m going to wait for the results of the review to come back,” Mr Morrison told ABC Melbourne radio.
“I mean those sorts of ideas have been floated before … I’ll wait to see what the review says, I think that’s the fair and sensible thing to do.”
But the terms of the efficiency review, set up by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to determine whether the broadcasters were making the best use of their money, make it clear it will not consider a “merger of ABC and SBS”, or privatisation.
The ABC radio host raised the question in the context of both the ABC and SBS currently having their managing director positions vacant.
Former SBS boss Michael Ebeid left the multicultural broadcaster this week in a planned departure, leaving for Telstra, while Michelle Guthrie was sensationally sacked from the ABC at the instruction of the board.
In a statement, a spokesperson for SBS pointed out the terms of reference "specifically state that a merger of the ABC and SBS is outside of the scope".
"SBS and the ABC are two distinct media organisations, established for different reasons. The Lewis Efficiency Study in 2014 found that SBS is an extremely efficient and effective organisation, and we are fully confident that the current efficiency review will demonstrate that yet again,” the spokesperson wrote.
SBS News has sent the prime minister’s office a list of questions to clarify his position but is yet to receive a response.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the prime minister was now “talking openly about amalgamation”.
“[The review] explicitly rules out the amalgamation of ABC and SBS. It does it for very sensible reasons: that they're separate organisations with very different roles and responsibilities in the Australian media landscape.”
Labor's Anthony Albanese said the government was now openly talking merger plans. Source: AAP
