Sarah Henderson (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I think it is fair to say that most Australians love our public broadcasters—the ABC and SBS. We respect them as institutions, for the important role they play in our democratic process and for their relentless pursuit of excellence in journalism and program production. As the Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull, told last week's gathering of ABC luminaries here in Parliament House, 'The ABC has always been a vital part of Australia's public life and a vital part of Australia's journalistic life.'

I have a particular love of the ABC. I worked for the public broadcaster for eight years as a presenter and journalist for shows like The Investigators, Holiday and the 7.30 Report, and as a fill-in presenter on ABC radio. I even made a brief appearance in the third series of that great Australian drama Frontline. As an actor, I made a great reporter! As a journalist I did some of my finest work at the ABC. I won a Walkley and a Golden Quill for my coverage of the Port Arthur massacre, the most dreadful of tragedies, back in 1996. So I make my contribution with a particular insight into the ABC. I understand better than most its successes and achievements; its flaws and failings. On this point, I note that it is unfortunate that this motion does not include or acknowledge National Indigenous Television, which was formerly an independent public broadcaster—another public broadcaster now merged with SBS. The stories of Indigenous Australians are very important. I also worked at NITV and I respect the work of that organisation greatly.

What is clear from today's motion is that members opposite do not appreciate the ABC's obligations under its charter. The ABC has a statutory, legislated obligation to be accurate and impartial in its news and information services, according to the objective standards of journalism. Government has no say in or influence over the editorial content of the ABC. So let us make this very clear: in a democracy, like many of Australia's finest institutions, the ABC should rightly be subject to criticism if it fails to meet its statutory obligations. If members opposite are not prepared to criticise the ABC, they demonstrate a failing to engage in the democratic process.

Of course, that was not the case with Labor members of old. Bob Hawke frequently criticised the ABC during his time as Prime Minister. In 1991 he said of the ABC's coverage of the Gulf War that it had been 'loaded', 'biased' and 'disgraceful'. Another favourite son of the Labor Party, the former Prime Minister Paul Keating, once famously rebuked the then ABC Managing Director David Hill, threatening to punish the ABC in the federal budget for displeasing behaviour. Former senator Robert Ray, from Labor's right, who retired in 2008, reportedly once chastised the ABC as being 'left-wingers, Stalinists, who pursue active campaigns against us'. So in considering this motion before the House, we see an unfortunate double standard.

I think it is fair to say that, in recent times, the ABC has not always got it right. Yes, it should pursue journalism; it should do an incredible job in the stories it tells; but, when it gets it wrong, it should rightly be criticised. I fully support Minister Turnbull's urging in his speech last week that directors should step up and become more involved in holding management to account for the way in which the ABC is run. The Chair of the ABC, the Hon. James Spigelman, has announced a series of independent editorial audits of the ABC's news and current affairs programs. This is right and proper.

I reiterate: there is no plan to make cuts to the ABC, as both the Prime Minister and Minister Turnbull have said on a number of occasions. But this does not mean that the ABC should be exempt from being efficient. I worked for the ABC, as I mentioned. I saw many examples of waste, inefficiency and some terrible work practices. I am sure things have improved since those days, but it is right and proper that both the ABC and the SBS deliver programs, products and services in a cost-effective and efficient manner. ABC and SBS receive $1.4 billion per year from the taxpayer. The taxpayer deserves no less.

I particularly note the wonderful role that the ABC plays in rural and regional Australia, including in Geelong, where I am from. I wish to acknowledge the diversity of voices of the ABC, though I would urge the ABC to improve the diversity of voices across its organisation. (Time expired)

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