Earlier today, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed that the government will make a five percent budget cut to the annual funding of The ABC, with further details of the cuts to follow later this week.
At this point, it seems likely that state-based editions of 7:30 will be axed, radio budgets slashed, international bureaus pared back and TV production in South Australia shut down.
Earlier this year, we spoke to the always-excellent Andrew Denton about how both sides of Australian politics need a swift kick up the arse in order to be more effective, and about the “invaluable cultural institution” that is the ABC.
In light of today’s news, we decided to revisit this interview, in which Denton rages against the “ideological and commercial agenda” behind the looming cuts. As always, the guy gets it.
