One Nation backs down from ABC budget threat

AAP
May 31, 2017, updated May 31, 2017

UPDATE

Senator Pauline Hanson has backed down on threats One Nation would block budget measures unless ABC funding is slashed by $600 million over four years.

In a statement on Wednesday, Senator Hanson said it would not be in the nation’s best interests to block policy despite what she claims is “regular displays of bias” from the national broadcaster.

“Slashing ABC funding will not be the most crucial component of ensuring One Nation’s support for the Government’s budget,” Senator Hanson said.

“Despite the ABC’s bloated budget and regular displays of bias, it would not be in the nation’s best interests to block government supply in exchange for sweeping cuts to the national broadcaster.

“The people want One Nation to deal with all legislation on its merits, and the government’s budget will be no different,” Senator Hanson said.

She denied the earlier call to defund the ABC was related to allegations reported by the national broadcaster.

“People know my party has always been concerned about the ABC’s budget.”

Senator Hanson said One Nation’s Brian Burston had been calling for cuts to the ABC since his maiden speech.

EARLIER

One Nation is threatening to vote against key budget measures unless the federal government slashes funding for the ABC.

One Nation whip Brian Burston says the party wants the public broadcaster’s allocation reduced by $600 million over four years.

“It’s about time we took a stand against the ABC because if it’s us and they destroy us, what is it next, the government?” Senator Burston told The Australian on Wednesday.

The ultimatum comes after the ABC broadcast a leaked recording in which One Nation leader Pauline Hanson appears to acknowledge a $106,000 Jabiru plane was donated by Victorian property developer Bill McNee.

The minor party would only consider supporting a planned hike in the Medicare levy designed to fully fund the national disability insurance scheme, because it didn’t want disabled Australians to be “held to ransom”.

When asked whether the government would be blackmailed by One Nation, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield told ABC radio: “We have a range of legislative measures before the parliament and we put them forward and ask our colleagues to consider those on their merits.”

Three-year funding for the ABC was established in the 2016 budget, he said.

Labor senator Murray Watt, who has been pursuing One Nation over alleged electoral infringements, was scathing of the threat and demanded Senator Hanson make a full public statement.

“She can’t keep hiding from these questions forever,” he told reporters in Canberra.