ABC Chair certain that the ABC’s funding would be reviewed if Peter Dutton becomes Prime Minister

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The chair of the ABC, Kim Williams, says he has no doubt the broadcaster's funding will be reviewed if the coalition is elected. The opposition leader Peter Dutton has said he would scrutinise any "wasteful" spending at the organisation.

Transcript

00:00The upcoming federal election isn't the only thing on the horizon for the chair of the ABC.

00:07I don't think there's any doubt that in the event of Mr Dutton acceding to office

00:14that there would be a very early call for an efficiency and apparently an excellence review on what the ABC does.

00:22Mr Dutton has said repeatedly in recent days he would scrutinise the ABC's spending.

00:28Game on. The ABC is an accountable institution and I have no doubt it will perform well in any such review.

00:35At the Melbourne Press Club today Mr Williams addressed threats to media freedom globally

00:40and described the broadcaster's funding as extremely low by historical standards.

00:46He became teary speaking about the ABC's dedication to communities

00:51and the audience response to recent Cyclone Alfred coverage.

00:55I could read messages like that for hours.

01:00And reflected on times that drew a different emotional response.

01:05Like the pile on he received after making comments about US podcaster Joe Rogan last year.

01:11I did at times with the Joe Rogan experience, the subsequent experience

01:16and the messages from people like Kanye West and Mr Musk

01:23who's directed individual messages to me, sharing their wisdom.

01:29I did at times surrender to a pretty white hot fury.

01:35As the election rolls ever closer he'll be hoping there won't be any renewed call for the fury.

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