Bill Shorten pledges to back the ABC if Labor wins election

BILL Shorten has vowed to splash $83.7 million towards the ABC’s funding over three years if Labor wins the next federal election.

BILL Shorten has vowed to splash $83.7 million towards the ABC’s funding over three years if Labor wins the next federal election.

Mr Shorten said today he would reverse a Turnbull Government decision to freeze the public broadcaster’s annual funding indexation for three years from July 2019.

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The Labor leader said it would ensure the broadcaster could meet its charter requirements, safeguard jobs and maintain content and services.

Bill Shorten has vowed to splash $83.7 million towards the ABC’s funding over three years if Labor wins the next federal election. Picture: Keri Megelus

He accused Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of launching the biggest attack on the independence of the ABC in a generation.

“Enough is enough — 17 million Australians consume some form of ABC content every week,” he said.

“In regional Australia, in particular, the ABC plays a vital role in keeping communities connected with local news and emergency information.”

It follows official complaints by Mr Turnbull and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield over the broadcaster’s recent coverage of political events.

The Herald Sun revealed last month the broadcaster also paid more than $2.6 million in staff bonuses last year.