ABC Chair Kim Williams delivered the 2026 Andrew Bent Lecture in Hobart on 20 May, making a passionate case for renewed investment in the ABC.
Drawing on the story of Tasmania’s pioneering press freedom advocate, Andrew Bent, Williams argued that the ABC is the modern inheritor of that tradition, and that its independence and editorial integrity are more vital than ever in an era of AI-generated misinformation and declining local media.
He celebrated the ABC’s cultural contribution to Australia, from landmark drama and documentary to its indispensable emergency broadcasting role, and highlighted the ABC’s particular importance to Tasmania with its 140 local staff, emergency coverage, and productions like Bay of Fires and Rosehaven.
While welcoming recent government investment, Williams was clear that more is needed: ABC operational funding has fallen 12% in real terms since 2013-14, and the ABC cannot fully meet its charter obligations without a serious funding uplift.
Key moments:
Funding
“Notwithstanding truly welcome increases since 2022, ABC operational funding has fallen by 12% in real terms since 2013/14 and more than 30% since the mid 1980s. Time for some Andrew Bent style spirit and a real investment uplift.”
“Now imagine what we could achieve with a serious uplift in investment.”
A lifeline in times of crisis
“The thought of facing a major bushfire or storm without the ABC relaying vital information seems unimaginable.”
AI & truth
“It threatens not just to replace journalists with machines. It threatens the very existence of the concept of the truth by flooding the airwaves with misinformation and disinformation.”
A public broadcaster for all Australians
“The ABC is Australia’s biggest cultural asset of them all. The biggest source of news of them all. Often the biggest educator of them all.”
“Telling our stories; providing people with that priceless ineffable matter core to living – the truth.”
Our voices, our stories, our ABC
“Supporting the ABC is essentially about supporting Australian sovereignty. Backing national pride and self-respect. Showing the world what we are capable of.”
“If they don’t hear Australian voices when they are very young, they won’t take them seriously when they grow up.”
Kim Williams – 20 May 2026 – Andrew Bent lecture transcript
Transcript of speech