The One Nation leader talked about her ABC subscription idea during a recent presentation to the National Press Club in Canberra.
Members of the ABC Friends Goulburn Valley met in Shepparton last week, voicing their concerns about Ms Hanson’s proposal.
They agreed the ABC played a critical role in the maintenance of democracy in Australia, something those at the meeting agreed appeared absent from Ms Hanson’s suggestion.
Ms Hanson argued, during her speech, that most Australians had easy access to many news services, websites, podcasts and social media and views through such avenues as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Group convenor Robert McLean said Ms Hanson overlooked the fact that the ABC was entirely independent, owned by all Australians, and not beholden to any corporation, industry or powerful private individual or company.
“Subsequently, our independent national broadcaster can address and report on any issue without fear or favour,” he said.
Mr McLean said many saw the ABC as a left-leaning organisation but that such a view was unfair, for as society had become more conservative, any news service that adhered to any centrist and liberal views could be seen as encouraging certain aspects of political and social thought.
The ABC has an independent adjudicator who keeps watch on its activities and in the past year has only found inaccuracy or reason for concern in a handful of cases from the many hundreds of complaints.
The group agreed it would attempt to set up a meeting with Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell to encourage him to back the ABC and do all he could to ensure an increase in the ABC’s annual funding arrangements.
Members were concerned that the broadcaster’s budget had been cut under the previous Coalition government, something that had not been resolved under the present Labor government.
Mr McLean, who stood as one with group members, said the ABC was a major support upon which democracy rested and to weaken it, as suggested by Ms Hanson, was a direct attack on the lives of Australians.
