ABC Friends Northern Rivers recently took our advocacy directly to a federal electorate office, meeting with staff of the Hon. Justine Elliott, MP for Richmond, to press the case for proper ABC funding ahead of the federal budget.

A lifeline when it matters most

For Northern Rivers residents, the case for a properly funded ABC is not theoretical. When the catastrophic 2022 floods devastated communities across the region, the ABC was the lifeline that kept people informed, connected and safe. Emergency broadcasts have more than doubled nationally since 2017-18 — from 256 to 659 in 2023-24 — and the demand continues to grow. Yet this critical service is funded from the ABC’s general operating grant, which has been cut by 13.7% in real terms over the past decade. That is not a sustainable position.

What we put to the electorate office

The meeting covered the full range of issues in the ABC Friends pre-budget submission, including long-term funding arrangements, the ABC’s role as a trusted and fearless source of news, misinformation and disinformation, and the importance of local and regional content. But emergency broadcasting resonated most directly with a community that knows from hard experience what it means to depend on the ABC when everything else fails.

A committed advocate in parliament

Electorate staff confirmed that Justine Elliott had read the submission and assured the group that their MP would be an enthusiastic advocate for the ABC within government and parliament.

Keeping the conversation going

Both sides agreed to maintain contact for future representations. Membership forms were left at the office for any interested members of the public, because a fearless, independent ABC that is free for all Australians is worth fighting for.