Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Fair and Balanced) Bill 2017 and Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Measures) Bill 2017

Keeping rural, regional and remote Australians connected carries significant community benefit. Overall the NFF considers the ABC plays a positive role for regional Australians and the agricultural sector. NFF has since made a number of representations seeking to ensure there were no further cutbacks to regional services and that they remained a priority. Amending the ABC’s charter for delivery of services to ensure programs contribute to a sense of regional and national identity, as well as including geographic diversity are important steps to ensuring regional services are prioritised. NFF welcomes the regional measures contained in this bill as a means to refocusing and increasing emphasis towards regional services within ABC and is supportive of this bill.