The Future of ABC Funding

​​← Australia's Political Leadership​

The ABC provides national news, current affairs, entertainment, educational content, emergency broadcasting and regional services. Supporters of public funding argue that it gives Australians access to important services regardless of their income or location and allows the ABC to operate without depending primarily on advertisers.

Critics argue that the ABC competes with commercial media, has expanded beyond its essential public-service role and is affected by persistent perceptions of political and cultural bias. Some propose that most ABC content should gradually move towards a subscription model while taxpayer funding is retained for regional, emergency and other essential services.

The question is whether universal public funding remains the best model or whether those who use most ABC services should contribute more directly to their cost.

Question:

To what extent do you agree or disagree that the ABC, except for essential regional and emergency services, should gradually transition towards a subscription-based funding model?

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Open Democracy Perspective

Decisions about the ABC should not be driven solely by its strongest supporters, its strongest critics or political parties. Open Democracy enables the wider public to evaluate which services remain essential, how they should be funded and whether the ABC is meeting community expectations.