Senator McKenzie says the ABC must provide better coverage

Deputy leader of the Nationals and Minister for Agriculture, Bridget McKenzie, is calling on the ABC to provide quality regional services and venture into territory that does not solely rely on ratings.
 
In her private Senators Bill Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015, the Minister has addressed the question of what she believes the ABC’s mandate in regional Australia should be.
 
According to Senator McKenzie, rural and regional Australians deserve access to the public broadcaster, quality regional journalism and local content in a digital age that should be expanding choice, not creating local media blackspots.
 
The Senator says “at a time when there had been a consistent and significant reduction of ABC regional services over a long period…this bill recognises that in many rural and regional areas the ABC is the only media service to provide emergency service notifications, community engagement, news and weather.
 
“The ABC should have a legislated obligation to provide coverage to rural and regional Australia, and to ensure regional Australia has a say in changes to its vital services.
 
“These are significant changes and I’m proud to be part of a Government seeking to make a difference in rural and regional communities.”

 
 
 

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