The Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke, along with the Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, has announced a $50 million funding boost for the ABC to support the production of new Australian children’s and drama content.

The funding will be delivered to the ABC over three years from 2026-27.

It’s the sort of boost the ABC needs to create original content that’s free for all Australians.

ABC Friends has lobbied hard for additional funding for the ABC, especially during this year’s federal election when we highlighted the need for more original Australian drama, children’s TV, arts, science, history and documentaries.

“An investment in the ABC is an investment in Australia’s future as a creative, innovative nation. It’s an investment in our national identity,” said ABC Friends President, Cassandra Parkinson. 

The additional funding was included in new laws that will require streaming services with more than one million Australian subscribers to invest at least 10% of their total program expenditure on Australian content. This initiative will enable Australians to see more of themselves on screen – and for the world to see us.

We thank Ministers Burke and Wells for the additional funding and for obliging the streamers to do more.  

Thank you to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who help secure the additional money for the ABC as part of her negotiations on the new laws.

As Senator Hanson Young said, “For decades, the ABC has been the heart of Australian story telling. By strengthening its capacity to make more children’s and drama content, we’re ensuring that heart keeps beating strongly.”

Thank you Kim Williams, chair of the ABC board, who’s been a tireless advocate for the ABC since taking up his role last year.

As one senior Canberra public servant told us this week, “we’ve seen many advocates in Canberra but Kim Williams is next level in his passion for the ABC”.

ABC Friends is delighted by this wonderful Christmas present for the ABC.

Will it yield a new Bluey or a very different Aussie kids program? Whatever the result, we know the ABC will deliver the goods.

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Cassandra Parkinson
National President
ABC Friends