House debates Questions without Notice
Public Broadcasters
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:41 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister promise, on the night before the election, that there would be no cuts to the ABC or SBS?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
The point I have made earlier in question time today is that we never promised special treatment for the ABC of the SBS.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for Newcastle can join the member for Wakefield under 94(a).
The member for Newcastle then left the chamber.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
What is happening to the ABC and the SBS is, effectively, the application of an efficiency dividend. I should point out to the member who asked the question that before the election, the Treasurer—then then the shadow Treasurer—said very publicly of the ABC, 'If there is waste, we will cut it.' He said, 'If there is waste, we will cut it.'
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
I rise on a point of order on direct relevance. There was no preamble. All we have asked the Prime Minister is: did he say these words? It should not require pages of notes. We think it was on television when he said it. What he is going to now is clearly not directly relevant.
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
I am listening to what the Prime Minister has to say. I will listen in terms of the question asked.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
We clearly said that if we found waste we would deal with it. Let me quote from a former manager at ABC Radio National in the Sydney Morning Herald today—
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
If the member for Lalor wishes to join the others outside, she may do so if she keeps it up.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
She said:
Pockets of the ABC have been allowed to get too fat, flabby, wasteful and unaccountable.
Opposition members interjecting—
Mrs Bronwyn Bishop Speaker
The member for McMahon may leave under 94(a).
The member for McMahon then left the chamber.
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
She went on:
The same efficiencies and workplace practices that are the norm in corporate Australia need to be front and centre at the ABC so that it remains a strong, independent voice that is both editorially robust and reflects who we are—a culturally, geographically and socio-economically diverse nation that doesn't believe anyone is entitled to a job for life at the taxpayer's expense.
Mr Snowdon interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
Well said! Well said by that former manager at ABC Radio National. Let me make this crystal clear. Members opposite might think that the ABC should not have to face an efficiency dividend. Members opposite might think that there is no such thing as waste at the ABC.
Ms Kate Ellis interjecting—
Tony Abbott Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
We think that the ABC should be treated in exactly the same way as other areas of government. Other areas of government are subject to an efficiency dividend, and that is exactly what the ABC should be subject to as well.