Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

The ABC and SBS receive nearly $1.4 billion a year in funding from the Australian government, and I think that all of us on this side of the chamber would agree that one of the first and primary jobs of government is to make sure that taxpayers' dollars are well and efficiently expended. This government knows that there is the capacity at the ABC for savings to be made without reducing programming. Any suggestion at all that popular programs or services are at risk because of budget savings is completely absurd, as are any suggestions that inefficiency should be left unchecked. The previous minister, as is well known, did nothing to improve the efficiency of the public broadcasters. He did nothing to address the accelerating structural decline of Australia Post, and he did nothing to affect the unfolding financial disaster that is NBN Co. Senator Seselja, I know that the word 'neglect' comes to your mind as I say those words. In contrast, this government is not going to sit idly by. A working draft of the ABC and SBS Efficiency Study has been handed to both public broadcasters to assist them in managing their businesses more efficiently, and I know that Minister Turnbull looks forward very much to working with them over the coming months to achieve this goal.