Greens pledge more than $330m for ABC

Every dollar that has been cut from the ABC since 2013 would be restored, while advertising on SBS would be phased out under Greens policy.

Greens Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Richard Di Natale

The Australian Greens Senator will restore $330 million in funding cuts for the ABC. (AAP)

Every dollar that has been cut from the ABC since 2013 would be restored under Australian Greens policy.

The party has also pledged to grow the ABC's year-on-year funding, while amending the ABC Act so funding is not "subject to the whim of the government".

"We will restore more than $330 million in Liberal funding cuts and lock in funding in legislation so the ABC is no longer used as a government punching bag, no matter who is in the Lodge," said South Australian senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

They would also use $130 million to phase out in-program advertising on SBS completely over the next three years and reduce the amount of advertisements between programs by 80 per cent.

In a bid to "secure its "editorial independence", the Greens plan to enshrine the ABC's Nomination Panel in legislation and demanding board nominees to come before the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications.

They have also proposed a audience-appointed board member, "reflecting the role of ABC viewers as the critical stakeholder in our public broadcaster".

On-demand TV services ABC iView and SBS On Demand would also be protected from a paywall.


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Source: AAP


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Greens pledge more than $330m for ABC | SBS News