‘Game on’: Kim Williams welcomes Dutton’s ABC funding review

“I think it’s underperforming in documentaries is deeply alarming, and it needs to be corrected and redirected as a matter of urgency,” Williams said.

Williams also broke down in tears twice, while reflecting on the positive messages he has received from its audience on the impact of its work, in particular the service it provided during Cyclone Alfred in Queensland last month.

Dutton foreshadowed cuts to the public broadcaster on Wednesday while speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne, saying the Coalition would “reward excellence” when asked by host Raf Epstein if the broadcaster would be part of his wider plans for cuts.

“I think there’s very good work that the ABC does, and if it’s being run efficiently then [we’ll] … keep funding in place,” he said. “If it’s not being run efficiently … taxpayers pay for it, who work harder than ever just to get ahead, [they] would expect us to not … support the waste.”

Labor quickly pounced on Dutton’s comments, to which he added during several media appearances that day, with the party warning voters that Dutton had shown his hand, and asking for donations to help “fight for” a properly funded ABC.

More to come.

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