Good article and yes the ABC's constant and blatant bias and left-of-left wing propaganda is nauseating.

There is no reason why government should be running radio and television services and the ABC should be abolished immediately. The argument that it is justified to provide services that commercial stations won't, is the same as saying that it is necessary to provide services that no-one is willing to pay for. Why? Why is that a legitimate function of government? Why should people be forced to pay for services they don't want or aren't willing to pay for? How could such end up as anything but propaganda? Even if it was majoritarian propaganda, so what, why is that desirable?

Why is it not a complete solution that those who want the ABC's services pay for it voluntarily, and those who don't, don't?

"The business of progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of conservatives is to prevent the mistakes being made". But it is what constitutes a mistake. Global warming is a left wing conspiracy to a conservatives as are other progressive policies.

Policies have to be measured by how they benefit the common good, not by the narrow bias of an ideology. This also applies to authors like G K Chesterton.

Lea Sales' interview with Malcolm Turnbull last night should have been enough to calm any thinking person--as opposed to hysterical nationalists. Hyperbolic and paranoid nationalism is what Abbott is spruiking and appealing to and there's plenty of that in OZ.
Perhaps the ABC's alleged left-wing bias, compared with the population at large, reflects a proportionately better educated set of people, or a preparedness to think critically (as journalists are meant to do!). Education should always trump prejudice, whereas on this issue too, Australian populists, including our prime minister, cynically appeal to popular fears and prejudice.
Abbott knows he's on safe (popular) ground turning humanitarian issues into matters of national sovereignty, even if most of his own party squirm uncomfortably with it.
The ABC refuses to waive the flag in mindless (unreflective) celebration--of nothing but good fortune and schadenfreude--and is condemned for being "unAustralian". If being Australian means arrogance and a pull-the-ladder-up mentality, I'm with the ABC.
If Abbott's stance on such issues gets popular support it's just another instance of the failure of democracy.

Democracy appears to be working fairly well at present, even though it isn't well supported by the ABC or the lefties of the parliamentary press gallery. It is all very well for the ABC to adopt the high moral ground and follow the lead of the Guardian, but when the timing of these revelations makes it look like the blame lies at Abbot's door one rightly questions the motives of the ABC. I didn't see any genuine attempt by the ABC to shift the blame to those to whom it rightly belonged.

David

even if most of his own party squirm uncomfortably with it.
Squeers,
did you just make this up now ? Where's that party lot that squirms ? I think it's just wishful thinking of some ALP lemmings.

Hi Jai,

Interesting ideas. Thanks.

Are you up for a chat? If so, where can we find that "recent survey" on the political inclinations of ABC staff?

How recent, Jai?

According to Sarah Homewood's research that was not the case in 2012. And indications since then suggest that the shift towards strong pro-Coalition affiliation has accelerated dramatically. In the News and Current Affairs units, anyway.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/06/25/speaking-of-media-independence-how-does-aunty-fare/?wpmp_tp=1

Happy to discuss further, Jai.

Cheers, AA