Glenys Stradijot Friends of the ABC (Vic) office
Campaign Manager Ph: +61 3 9682 0073
Ph: +61 3 9525 5717 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Mobile 0409 11 0411
PO Box 2103,
StKilda West 3182
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Email is not checked daily. If a matter is urgent pls phone.
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Media Release : Daryl Williams AM QC replaces Senator Alston Will it
make a difference?
"Friends of the ABC welcomes the removal of Senator Alston from the
position of Minister for Communications," said Terry Laidler, a
spokesperson for Friends of the ABC.
"Senator Alston's record as the Minister for Communications has been
disgraceful with regard to the ABC.
"The Minister responsible for the national public broadcaster should
support independent and comprehensive public broadcasting and advocate
on its behalf. Instead, Senator Alston has sought to interfere in the
ABC's independence and to undermine the broadcaster at every opportunity.
"Friends of the ABC's worry is that Senator Alston should have been
replaced long ago if there was a genuine change in the government's
hostile attitude toward the ABC. We are concerned to see that the
Coalition is not simply appointing a different front person to continue
its hatchet job on the national broadcaster, albeitly a little more
quietly and subtly than Senator Alston.
"Friends of the ABC wishes Mr Williams well and will judge him on his
merits.
"If the government has this time appointed a minister who is committed
to public broadcasting, his first and most urgent action must be to
reverse the ABC's dire funding position. His next step would be to
introduce a new system that ensures ABC board members are appointed on
the basis of merit and their commitment to independent and comprehensive
public broadcasting."
Further Comment: Terry Laidler, a Friends of the ABC spokesperson 0412
363 699
Further information: Glenys Stradijot (03) 9525 5717 or 0409 11 04 11
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