SBS to be funded 5-yearly

The Albanese Labor Government confirmed it will deliver 5-year funding terms for Australia’s national broadcasters, SBS and the ABC, commencing 1 July 2023.

Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland, said that moving those broadcasters beyond 3-year funding terms will better safeguard the independence of the national broadcasters, as well as support long-term strategic planning and innovation in high-quality content provision and service delivery, across Australia.

Save Our SBS president, Steve Aujard, welcomed the change from 3-year to 5-year funding for SBS.

Meanwhile a spokesperson for SBS said that SBS welcomes the announcement from the Federal Government as part of the Federal Budget, maintaining current levels of funding and providing certainty for SBS as the broadcaster continues to deliver essential and evolving services to meet the needs of communities. 

“SBS is working with the Government and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts on both the Feasibility Study and the implementation of five-year funding terms for public broadcasters,” said an SBS spokesperson.

“The outcomes of the Feasibility Study will be carefully considered by the SBS Board, which as the Minister said recently, holds ultimate responsibility for any decision. Our priority will remain accessing the talent, tools and technologies we need to continue fulfilling our Charter each and every day for our audiences who are in all corners of Australia.”