I can see that some of you are intent on driving issues of marginal relevance until they fall over a cliff due to lack of information.
OK I'll bite, at least in a small measured way.
It's not the dollar amount (which by the way, includes TV radio and internet services, national, country and state services, news, current affairs, drama, and much much more besides) but the adequacy of the amount compared with the need.
And I reiterate the need in terms of public affairs, current affairs is extremely high.
Let me tell you, that cutting the ABC budget consistently has led to much less in the way of current affairs.
One is the demise of Lateline, which used to set the agenda for the news. Now it's set by News Ltd via Sky and the Australian. With a lot of opinion instead of fact.
But shock jocks like Allan Jones can say what they like, because they're making money for private enterprise. Only the defamation courts slow him down, and even then it' doesn't stop him.
