A NATIONALS senator will seek assurances from the ABC that there’ll be no reduction in regional radio services.
Hundreds of regional Victorians attended rallies in Ballarat, Bendigo and Wodonga today after the Federal Government confirmed the broadcaster would have its budget cut by $254 million over the next five years.
Victorian Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie today acknowledge protests over the government-imposed cuts and vowed to ensure regional radio would not bare the brunt of cost cutting.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has challenged ABC management not to make “cowardly” cuts that change programming.
Mr Turnbull said all savings could be found within operational efficiencies.
Senator McKenzie said the Nationals were “strong supporters” of the ABC’s local radio and emergency broadcasting services which were “vital” to regional communities.
She said Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull had assured her the government remained committed to “maintaining the health and vibrancy of the ABC”.
Senator McKenzie said she would again be seeking assurance from ABC managing director Mark Scott in Senate estimates today that regional radio and services would not be affected.
“Mr Scott must guarantee local radio delivers the service regional taxpayers deserve and expect,” she said.
“While the government cannot dictate programming decisions of the ABC, I will continue to make clear to ABC management that any savings should be made in backroom operations and not cuts to regional programming.”
Senator McKenzie joined fellow Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce in ensuring regional radio services would be protected.
Mr Joyce told The West Australian this week he would also seek assurances from Mr Turnbull country people would not lose local news services.
He said Mr Joyce could not be “a lion in the bush” and “then be a mouse in Canberra”.
“Radio in regional areas serves a crucial purpose,” Mr Joyce said.
“In some cases it serves as an emergency (warning) system.”
Labor’s communications spokesman Jason Clare said there was now division in the ranks of the Liberal Party and the National Party over the issue.
“We’ve got Barnaby Joyce barnstorming around the bush attacking the Government for cutting radio services,” he said.
He said Mr Joyce could not be “a lion in the bush” and “then be a mouse in Canberra”.
“You’re in the Cabinet. You should stand up to Malcolm Turnbull and you should stand up to Tony Abbott, and you should tell the Prime Minister to stop lying to the Australian people.”
