Notice that Abbott's and the Coalition's approval rating has been suffering in the polls lately? That homelessness is increasing? Youth unemployment is growing? That consumer confidence is in the toilet? That we have historically low interest rates that are even lower than those during the GFC? (That is not a good sign of economic health btw)

It's obviously time to ramp up the fear and hate, and while we are at it, attack non-corporate media outlets - the Coalition is no friend of any public TV - whether it is the ABC, SBS or Community TV.
Community TV will be booted off air in the next 12 months.
Community TV: Malcolm Turnbull confirms licensing for stations will end in 2015 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-10/community-television-kicked-off-air-by-federal-government/5733690

Have you had your 2 minutes of hate today?

According to a recent Essential poll, 63% of Australians trust the ABC news and current affairs, compared to 46% commercial TV news and current affairs. Trust in Tony Abbott was at a mere 31%.

Corporate media can never be unbiased. It has a commercial imperative to be corporate friendly. It can't afford to bite the hand that feeds it. That is where having a strong public broadcaster is of real value. In the commercial world, news and current affairs need to make money. The ABC and SBS don't have that constraint. They can afford to be more critical of powerful institutions - public and private - or at least they should be.

Good posts, onthebeach and Jayb.

Bad post, Foxy. Your premise is, that Zacky Mallah is a reformed individual who just wants to help save young Muslims from going on Jihad. Everything this crazy young Muslim, who once proudly bragged that he was "Australia's first terrorist" says, you accept as fact. It is a good thing that Mallah has not tried to join the Comanchero Biker club like Monis, outlaw bikers seem to be more adept at figuring out who has credibility than you or your fellow "progressives."

I have no objection to Zacky Mallah speaking on anything. However much I oppose Hizb-ut-Tahrir in Australia, I support the idea of them speaking in public, so that even people like yourself can see what a serious danger to your own society these foreign imports are. What I object to, is a politically partisan and taxpayer funded media using a person like Mallah as some sort of tortured innocent, who is unjustly being persecuted by the Australian government, in a failed bid to embarrass a government minister who is charged with protecting our society from people like Mallah.

It is just like the ABC using OJ Simpson as a special guest on a program about domestic violence, and using him as an example how men found innocent of murdering their wives are treated badly by government officials who, despite the acquittal, still consider them dangerous.

And thank you for bringing up "Charlie Hedbo." What we had with that example was a bunch of intellectuals who supported Muslim immigration, while at the same time refusing to recognise the serious danger France was importing into it's own society. Maybe the truth finally dawned upon them in that instant when some Jihadi burst into their conference room and pointed an AK 47 at their heads? If you want free speech, or democracy, or gender equality, or secular government, then supporting the importation of large numbers of people who violently oppose these concepts is insanity.

As a fringe broadcaster the ABC should not get a total subsidy. Sell it.

The ABC is a "fringe broadcaster"? News to me and the millions of people who spend hours listening to it each day...

Funny how it's all the fringe loonies who aren't willing to stand up and be recognised for their views who are howling though...

'According to a recent Essential poll, 63% of Australians trust the ABC new'

thanks for confirming how many ignorant people their are out their BJelly. Julia and Bill were/are so truthworthy.