Tasmania will be far the poorer if ABC management axes the local, Friday night 7.30 Report in response to the savagely ideological $200 million Abbott Government budget cut, Greens member for Denison, Cassy O’Connor MP, said today.
“Before he was elected Prime Minister, Tony Abbott swore there would be no cuts to ABC funding. It was one of many lies he told before the election,” Ms O’Connor said.
“ABC Tasmania is not only core to our identity as a state, many Tasmanians rely on it as a source of quality news, current affairs and community engagement.”
“The Friday night ‘7.30 Report’ program is the only locally produced current affairs program we have, the only television forum for in-depth coverage of local issues and politics.”
“To lose this program, along with the jobs of the Tasmanian media professionals who put it together each week, is a devastating blow to local production, content and audiences.”
“In Parliament recently, all three political parties spoke in support of a tri-partisan Matter of Public Importance supporting the ABC Tasmania and its state-based current affairs flagship.”
“I trust the Liberal MPs who supported that Motion will be lobbying their federal colleagues to reverse these savage and highly damaging funding cuts to the ABC.”
“This is a very sad day for Tasmania and a devastating blow to the local ABC.”
“Tony Abbott’s bare-faced lie to the Australian people won’t be forgotten by Tasmanians who rely on, and are proud of, their ABC,” Ms O’Connor said.