[Greens-Media] RATTENBURY MEDIA RELEASE: ACT Assembly calls on Tony Abbott to reverse cuts to ABC and SBS

[Jaques, Alison]

Please find attached media release from ACT Greens MLA, Shane Rattenbury.

MEDIA RELEASE
Shane Rattenbury MLA, ACT Greens Member for Molonglo

27 November 2014

ACT Assembly calls on Tony Abbott to reverse cuts to ABC and SBS

The ACT Assembly today passed a motion from ACT Greens Member Shane Rattenbury, calling on the Federal Government to reverse its short sighted funding cuts to the ABC and SBS.

The Greens motion was passed with the support of the Labor Party, but was opposed by Jeremy Hanson and the Canberra Liberals.

"It's important that our local Assembly stands up against these cuts, imposed on the back of a spectacular broken promise, which will cause significant local detriment here in the ACT," said Mr Rattenbury.

"The ABC has already announced 8 jobs will be lost from Canberra's ABC, our local 7:30 ACT program will end, and radio news bulletins will be reduced which will likely result in less local news coverage.

"I'm devastated we'll lose our local 7:30 ACT program, which has provided a fantastic local focus, with quality stories that both celebrated Canberra, profiled local Canberrans and events, as well as conducted serious current affairs analysis on issues that were important and topical to locals.

"There will be a reduction in televised women's sport, with knock-on impacts to our local women's teams such as the Canberra Capitals and Canberra United.

"It's ridiculous for the Government to expect the ABC to find all the savings in its back-end administration; when you cut over $250million from the ABC you have to expect there will be programming changes and job losses.

The Speaker of the Assembly will now write to the Federal Government to express the Assembly's opposition to the cuts and calling on them to be reversed.

Statement ends



Ali Jaques | Media Adviser to Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens Member for Molonglo
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services; Sport and Recreation;
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; and Corrective Services.

t:  (02) 6205 3897 | m:  0481 035 764| alison.jaques at act.gov.au |

Follow Shane on  Facebook and Twitter



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