I am very angered by the recent funding cuts announced by the ABC. I looked up the Friends of the ABC website to see what I could do, but sadly found the site very out of date with a link to the NSW branch that doesn't even work. Might I suggest that Friends of the ABC create a petition against the latest cuts (and the rest of the attacks by this federal government...) and put it on the website with appropriate details of who to send it to? I would certainly distribute any petition widely and will gladly donate time to circulate in shopping centres etc. Our public institutions are being savaged by the federal government and I for one, have had enough.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2003

Answers

Thanks to those who suggested a petition. I'll draft one and upload it over the next couple of days.

In the meantime I suggest that those who have time write personally to their member of federal parliament.

While petitions have value, personal letters have more impact.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2003

I feel the same way. I was expecting to find a petition, or a letter of protest to government, ready to be submitted electronically. IT geniuses please help, the troops are ready to be rallied.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2003

Thanks, I will look forward to the petition. If letters really have more impact then perhaps it could also be drafted up in the form of a letter with space for the Member of Parliament details and sender's details.

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2003

I live and teach in a remote school in the Northern Territory. I too am angered and dismayed by what seems to be a humble acceptance of the cuts to the ABC. We cannot sit on our hands and watch this happen without roaring from all corners of Australia that it is UNACCEPTABLE. Behind the News, in particular, is a valuable resource used by many of the teachers in our school, and is a program that has kept pace with children and provides them with current news and events that they are not able to access as readily from other mediums. What is the rationale behind the cuts? Whose ABC is it? I would like to see a petition made available to school and organisations that may use the ABC regularly. Please don't let the government implement these cuts. Stand up and be counted!!

Helen Rayner

-- Anonymous, August 05, 2003

FABC need to seriously look at their web site as it does not cut the mustard.

-- Anonymous, August 07, 2003

A petition is OK but what about nationwide rallies before the end of the year..

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2003