Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Hanson-Young. Again, you would be familiar with the fact that the ABC does operate independently of government, and we don't direct them as to how they should use the funding that's provided by government. It's a matter for ABC management to decide whether they dedicate the extra funding that we've provided to emergency broadcasting or to their other activities. I will note, though—Senator McAllister has drawn my attention to a speech the Minister for Communications gave to the ABC Friends of Victoria, I think in November last year, in which she talked about the reinstatement of funding that had been cut by the coalition. Minister Rowland said on budget night in October last year that she was pleased to see the ABC welcome the extra funding commitment, issuing a statement that said, 'The increase in funding will mean greater capacity to deliver emergency broadcasting services to provide crucial information.' So it would appear that, in the ABC's own words, they have received funding that will assist them with that service.