Page 496 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 8 March 2006
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
or so and then the local content was abandoned completely and ABC television news was delivered from Sydney, with no Canberra or local content.
I think there was great expectation two or three years ago that, with the significant enhancements at Dickson and a commitment by the ABC to return local content to its television broadcasts in the ACT, we would see a level of reporting of local affairs that many of us felt in its absence did not reflect well on the ABC or, indeed, suggested that the ABC was not meeting its charter obligations to the people of Canberra or to the ACT. It was the major refurbishment and the appointment of local reporters and, indeed, a news presenter who is a Canberran that led us to hope and expect a significant or comprehensive coverage of Canberra events and news on Canberra television.
That has not come to pass. Mr Mulcahy, in drawing attention to that, is quite right; that is, that the Canberra news content on ABC television in its nightly 7 o’clock news is poor. The time is derisory. It is normally squashed in between the financial report and the news. It comes late and it is inconsistent. Some nights there is none. I am one of those that believe that it is a pity and a matter of some regret that ABC television news within Canberra is not providing a level of information to the people of Canberra about their community.
In that regard, it has to be said that we have come to a position or we are at a position in the ACT where we have four television stations operating, but only one of them, WIN Television, is providing a comprehensive service to the people of the ACT. Whilst we debate today our support for the ABC, there is not a single person in this place, I am sure, or indeed a single Canberran who is interested in their community, that does not say every night, “Thank God for WIN. Thank God for Peter Leonard.” If you are a person who relies on television for your news and information on what is going on in your community, then you rely upon WIN. So, whilst I am a great supporter of the ABC and I support this motion, let us not forget that we are now almost wholly and solely dependent on Peter Leonard, the team at WIN Television and WIN Television for our TV news. That is an issue which the ABC, locally, simply must address.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (5.27), in reply: I thank the Chief Minister, Dr Foskey and Mr Mulcahy for their contributions to this debate. I thank the Chief Minister and Dr Foskey particularly for their support of this motion in its totality and the Chief Minister for his support of the ABC’s submission and the continued independence of the ABC. Dr Foskey is right in pointing out how important the ABC is to those who are isolated or at risk of being isolated. She also mentioned how the ABC has nurtured and developed so much talent in this country, people who have taken the Australian product overseas.
I am sorry that Mr Mulcahy suggested that I said that the federal government had announced a cut recently, but heard incorrectly. There is a whole lot of difference, I believe, in the statement that there has been some kind of cut, which I believe I did not say, to what I did ask for; that is, support for the current submission that is being considered. I am sorry that he is so out of touch with his constituents that he does not believe that the ABC is important to treasure and to fight for in this town. It is certainly very important, as the Chief Minister has just said, to this town and to its people.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .