Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s national broadcaster, tracing its origins back to 1929. Over nearly a century, the ABC has grown into a multifaceted media organization that provides radio, television, online, and mobile services across Australia and abroad. Today, it operates six nationwide television channels, more than a dozen radio services, and a wide-reaching network of regional and local broadcasters, making it one of the country’s largest media institutions.

Media assets

Television: National- ABC1, ABC Comedy, ABC Me, ABC Kids, ABC News, ABC Arts; Regional- ABN (Sydney, New South Wales), ABV (Melbourne, Victoria), ABQ (Brisbane, Queensland), ABS (Adelaide, South Australia), ABW (Perth, Western Australia), ABT (Hobart, Tasmania), ABC (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory), ABD (Darwin, Northern Territory); Radio: National- ABC Radio Sydney, Radio National, ABC NewsRadio, ABS Sport, ABC Sport Extra, International Rugby, ABC Classic, ABC Jazz, Double J, Triple J, Triple J Unearthed, ABC Country, Kids Listen, Women’s Big Bash League; Local- 54 local radio stations; International- Radio Australia

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent State-Funded (ISF)

Ownership and governance

The Australian Broadcasting Act 1983 (ABC Act) established the ABC as a statutory authority with a mandate to deliver broadcast services and programming in the public interest.

The ABC is governed by a Board of Directors, which stands as its highest decision-making body. Directors are appointed through a merit-based process designed to limit political interference. An independent Nomination Panel advertises vacancies and, based on applications, shortlists three candidates per position. The federal government selects one of these and recommends the candidate to the Governor-General, Australia’s Monarch-appointed head of state, who makes the final appointment.

The Board comprises non-executive directors appointed by the Governor-General, one staff-elected director, and the Managing Director, who is appointed by the Board itself. Under the ABC Act, all directors must demonstrate professional experience in broadcasting, communications, management, finance, or technical expertise.

This system is expressly intended to insulate the ABC from direct government control, ensuring that appointments are based on professional merit rather than political patronage.

In March 2025, Hugh Marks, a seasoned former CEO of Nine Entertainment, assumed the role of Managing Director (MD) of the ABC for a five-year term. He succeeded David Anderson, who resigned after just one year into his second term. Marks’ appointment was made following a thorough domestic and international search and affirmed by unanimous board vote.

Source of funding and budget

Since 1973, when licence fees on broadcast receivers were abolished, the ABC has been funded primarily through government appropriations. Its budget is reviewed on a three-year cycle, a mechanism designed to allow long-term planning and reduce the risk of political short-termism.

In 2020–2021, ABC received A$1.06 billion (US$755 million) in government funding, accounting for more than 95% of its total income. In 2021–2022, funding rose slightly to A$1.07 billion (US$746 million). In 2022–2023, the appropriation was maintained at A$1.10 billion (US$754 million), supplemented by A$94 million (US$62.7 million) in commercial revenue, according to ABC’s annual report.

The federal government has pledged to sustain its five-year funding allocation, ensuring around A$1.1 billion annually through the mid-2020s. This long-term commitment has provided a degree of financial certainty after several years of cuts and disputes over ABC’s budget in the late 2010s and early 2020s.

In 2024 and into 2025, parliamentary debates over public broadcasting resurged, with some political voices arguing for further scrutiny of ABC’s expenditure. However, the government reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining stable funding, stressing the broadcaster’s national importance amid rising concerns about disinformation and declining trust in commercial media.

In December 2024, during the Labor government’s mid‑year economic update, the ABC was granted a funding boost: A$83 million over two years starting 2026–27, along with an ongoing A$43 million per year thereafter. This comes with a commitment to legislate five-year funding terms for the ABC and SBS in order to enhance independence and stability.

The ABC’s 2024 annual report revealed government funding of approximately A$1.137 billion, which marked a A$30 million year‑on‑year increase. Despite this funding boost, the broadcaster suffered a loss of 670,000 weekly audience members, averaging 12.3 million across all platforms. A minor technical deficit of A$2.2 million was recorded.

Speaking in April 2025 at the Melbourne Press Club, ABC Chair Kim Williams urged the government to properly invest in the broadcaster, noting the current A$1.1 billion allocation is “extremely low by historical standards”, and that in real terms the ABC now receives over A$150 million less annually than in 2013. He emphasized the broadcaster’s role in maintaining democracy and warned that Australia invests 40% less per capita in public broadcasting than the average of 20 comparable OECD democracies.

Editorial independence

Despite its reliance on government appropriations, the ABC is bound by statutory protections that safeguard its editorial autonomy. The ABC Act enshrines the organisation’s independence in both editorial and administrative matters, expressly forbidding government or political interference in programming decisions.

The ABC is widely recognized for its journalistic standards, impartiality, and its role in upholding the quality of broadcasting in Australia. When political pressure has arisen—whether through critical remarks from politicians or attempts to influence coverage—the ABC has typically responded with robust pushback. Such episodes often lead to parliamentary inquiries or public debate, which, in most cases, reinforce the broadcaster’s autonomy.

To ensure accountability, the ABC develops Codes of Practice, which must be submitted to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The broadcaster is also subject to periodic independent reviews commissioned by the Department of Communications and the Arts, with findings made publicly available.

The ABC also maintains an internal mechanism for audience feedback and editorial complaints. This system not only provides the public with a voice but also serves as an instrument for strengthening performance and credibility.

In 2025, debates around the ABC’s independence intensified after renewed criticism from some government MPs regarding the Corporation’s political coverage and regional service priorities. However, public opinion surveys consistently show that the ABC remains one of the most trusted institutions in Australia, particularly in the field of news and information.

August 2025