NSW: Thousands turn out in Sydney to support the ABC

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2001
NSW: Thousands turn out in Sydney to support the ABC

By Lisa Davies

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Threats of federal funding cuts to the ABC brought more than
10,000 protesters to the forecourt of Sydney's Opera House today.

Speakers at the rally, organised by Friends of the ABC and the Community and Public
Sector Union, urged the "real shareholders of the ABC, the Australian community" to demand
a better funding deal for the national broadcaster.

Veteran ABC television journalist and former staff-elected director of the ABC board,
Quentin Dempster, said the integrity of the broadcaster was being destroyed by "party-political
hacks".

"Over the last 15 years, our democratically elected prime ministers ... have besmirched
the prestige of their high office by cuddling up to the big media tycoons ... while allowing
the national broadcaster to be marginalised and wither on the vine," Mr Dempster said.

He said over that period, ABC funding had been cut by 34 per cent and about 2,000 broadcasters
and support staff had been made to "walk the redundancy plank".

Mr Dempster added that the ABC was fast becoming "UK TV", reliant on repeats and the
shelf items of other broadcasters, with an overwhelmingly British focus.

"So much for the ABC Act, which obliges the national broadcaster to enhance a sense
of Australian identity," he told the crowd.

The rally on the steps of the Sydney Opera House drew protesters from interstate and
around NSW, with representatives from all political parties.

Sea Change actor and Logie award winner John Howard told the crowd to put the issue
of funding for the national broadcaster firmly on the political agenda.

"If this government won't support Aunty, then let's get one that will," he said.

"And let them clearly understand that our public broadcaster holds up a mirror to our
national soul.

"It must see with our eyes, listen with our ears and speak with our voices from our
hearts, because nobody will tell our stories if we don't."

Chair of the event, comedian Rod Quantock (Quantock), told the vocal crowd that all
nine ABC board members had declined an invitation to attend the rally.

"We didn't bother renting chairs because we knew they wouldn't come," Mr Quantock said.

"In fact, they even sent a letter ... where they actually denied that the ABC was under
threat ... of losing it's integrity."

AAP ld/rp/mg/bwlo

KEYWORD: ABC RALLY NIGHTLEAD

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