The Morrison Government has locked in committed and growing funding of $4.2 billion for the ABC and SBS over the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the funding will allow the ABC and SBS to continue to provide innovative, comprehensive and high quality television, radio and digital media services to all Australians.
“The ABC and SBS are essential components of Australia’s diverse media landscape,” Minister Fletcher said.
“We’ve delivered an increase in funding for both national broadcasters compared to both the 2016-19 and 2019-22 funding period. This funding commitment is designed to provide certainty for both broadcasters and is being announced well in advance of the next funding period to assist the ABC and SBS to develop their forward plans.”
The ABC will receive $3,284.9 million over the next three years. This includes $45.8 million under the Enhanced News Gathering program to strengthen local public interest journalism in regional communities. This is an increase of $87.2 million over the current triennium.
The ABC will also benefit from a return of indexation on base operational funding as outlined in the May 2021 Budget papers.
SBS will receive $953.7 million, including an additional $37.5 million in ongoing funding to support its long-term sustainability. This is an increase of $56.7 million over the current triennium. A table setting out the funding commitment is attached.
The ABC and SBS will also receive additional funding to support the continuation and expansion of audio description services to blind and vision impaired Australians.
Minister Fletcher has today written to the ABC and SBS outlining their three-year funding packages, and issued Statements of Expectations regarding the reporting by the two organisations in relation to a number of their key activities-including a new ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Broadcasters Reporting Framework for Australian Content, and, in the case of the ABC, its rural and regional activities. To view the Statements of Expectations, go to .
