Squeers,
You miss my point. A large number of the population look after themselves when it comes to sourcing their entertainment and information. It's about time heavy users of ABC content fork up for the services currently subsidised heavily by other tax payers. You claim it's so good you should be willing to pay extra. i suggest a subscription system to fund additional content such as The Drum and Environmental blogs that the vast majority of the population never access.

You contend: "But this is just a witch hunt, like climate gate, pursued by right-wing, free-market blow-holes who celebrate every tacky new commodity private interests spew out." This is just more internet gossip, without any evidence to back it up-are you sure you don't work for ABC News, seems you pass their test for journalism. You consider that seeking to hold ABC to account for its failing standards is a witch hunt, what a weird upside down world you live in

Graham, I'm sorry, but when I went looking for that US navy ice report I could not find it again. I may be looking in the wrong place, but I think it has been "disappeared".

2. Can you defend your statement that ABC and SBS programmers are on on drugs?
Bonmot,
Well, if it's not drugs then what is it that makes them do things that they do ? I believe quite a few of them are just leftie self-serving mutts. Why else won't they produce intelligent childrens programming to help build childrens' level of intelligence ? Wouldn't you be happier if you were smarter ? Be honest now ?
as for your first question I don't think the commercial stations are of any better standard than the taxpayer funded stations. At least the commercial stations aren't wasting my dollars. See, the difference is that 80 % of TV in Australia is as mindless as other countries but at least the commercial stations keep the coin rolling. The ABC & SBS stop the coin rolling once it reaches them.

Some time back it rained a bit. No, not this year, when it rained a hell of a lot, but enough for my area to be cut for a couple of days.

As I had something important to do the next day, & was getting concerned about flooding, I switched on the radio, tuned to ABC 612. This was either late in the evening, or early in the morning. In view of torrential rain falling in the south east of Queensland it seemed to be appropriate to tune in to "my local radio ABC". for information.

After about 15 minutes I got a weather bulletin. I was advised of rain expected to continue in Sydney Harbour, & a damaging thunder storm west of Coffs Harbour. Queensland did not exist, at least in the area of interest of "our ABC". Obviously our ABC is too busy spending our taxes on art, culture & lefty causes to have any money left for a radio station catering to the safety of Queenslanders.

As far as I'm concerned you can stick your ABC, it's of no use at all to most Ozzies, & I think we should all withhold that 8.5 cents a day from our tax, to force a showdown.

The ABC had made itself totally irrelevant by deciding to cater for a totally irrelevant audience of those who consider themselves an elite. It's disappearance would only be helpful to the country.

Lets see:
1- because both anonymous internet postings, and discussions where lobbyists must reveal their identity and angle, both have a place in society.
2- broader accessible circulation of ideas from popular ABC than to whoever has heard of the "Online Opinion Forum"
3- general security and importance of having a national, non-commercial broadcaster.
4- that taxpayers don't exactly pay very much per year to uphold the ABC
5- that the ABC is a far better channel than 7,9,10.

Hasbeen sums it up perfectly

'Obviously ideology comes first, in all matters at our ABC.'

Could not be more accurate.