"And so if the Libs after 11 years in power can leave alone the...

"And so if the Libs after 11 years in power can leave alone the taxypayer-funded ABC with its very obvious bias against the Libs, why is this government incapable of accepting criticism from an organisation that, if it doesnt meet its readers' needs, will go out of business?"

A grave mistake on Howard's part. He should have either privatised the ABC when he had control of both Houses, or at least made it a GBE and taken all staff out of the protection of the Public Service Act. Make the ABC self funding and dependent on attracting sponsorship from - well, the kind of business its left leaning staff pillory on a daily basis. You'd see the ABC become very centrist, very quickly.

That has to be a good thing. Personally I am not confident that would work as there is a deeply entrenched bias. Tony should sell it - maybe to a Palmer/Rinehart consortium!