Liberal Mayo candidate Georgina Downer pushes for ABC news programs to be produced in SA

Federal political hopeful Georgina Downer, accused of being “anti-ABC” at the Mayo by-election, wants the public broadcaster to produce its key news programs out of SA.

Federal political hopeful Georgina Downer last year gave GetUp activists dressed as the Bananas in Pyjamas the slip as she battled allegations she was anti-ABC.

Now, Ms Downer is only too happy to take on children’s TV favourites B1 and B2 as she calls on the public broadcaster to start producing its key news programs out of SA.

The daughter of former Howard government minister Alexander Downer will recontest his old seat of Mayo for the Liberal party in the mid-year election.

During the 2018 by-election, Ms Downer avoided posing with the ABC’s Bananas in Pyjamas, while eventual winner, the Centre Alliance’s Rebekha Sharkie, as well as the Greens and Labor candidates were happy to be photographed with the pair.

As GetUp plans to reignite its campaign to protect ABC “funding, independence and integrity”, Ms Downer has put a spotlight on their demands by calling for television production and other services to be re-established in Adelaide.

GetUp volunteers, dressed as Bananas in Pyjamas, follow Liberal candidate Georgina Downer during the Mayo by-election. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

She said hosting programs out of Melbourne and Sydney had robbed the state of a “voice of influence” in public debate and development of local talent.

“Decentralisation is good for so many reasons, not just for jobs but also for diversity of voices, thoughts and opinions,” Ms Downer said. “People in South Australia do feel overlooked by the ABC.”

Ms Downer has not written to the ABC managing director but said she had spoken to cabinet ministers, including Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and ABC staff in Adelaide.

She also proposed that national programs including News Breakfast, The Drum and Insiders be recorded at the ABC’s Collinswood building.

“We don’t necessarily need Barry Cassidy to do Insiders, we could have some great SA talent,” Ms Downer said.

She said it was not for the Government to tell the ABC where to move its production, but she would encourage the decision-makers not to ignore the state. Ms Downer also reinforced that the ABC should not be immune from running an “efficient” budget.

“Any independent body like the ABC that is wholly funded by the Australian taxpayer (should) take a conservative and very serious approach to their budget management and get the best possible outcomes,” she said.

Polling conducted ahead of the Mayo by-election revealed the ABC was a major concern for residents.

But it will not be the centre of Ms Downer’s impending campaign.

“My campaign is going to be focused very much on what the Federal Government has delivered for the people of Mayo and what I can fight for locally,” she said.

Originally published as Liberal Mayo candidate Georgina Downer pushes for ABC news programs to be produced in SA