Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

Image. Advertisement:

Book-industry figures sign open letter in support of ABC

Australian Book Review (ABR) has published an open letter against privatisation, political interference and funding cuts to the ABC, which has been signed by 100 people including various book-industry figures.

ABR editor and CEO Peter Rose wrote, ‘ABR shares many Australians’ concerns about the health and viability of the ABC. The threats are myriad and sustained. Funding cuts, political interference, and frequent taunts from News Corp have weakened the organisation.’

‘Recently, the Liberal Party’s Federal Council voted to privatise the organisation. This would surely spell the beginning of the end for the national broadcaster,’ added Rose.

Among the signatories to the open letter are MUP publisher Louise Adler, Ford Street publisher Paul Collins, Melbourne Writers Festival artistic director Marieke Hardy, and authors J M Coetzee, Robert Dessaix, Anna Funder, Helen Garner, Anna Goldsworthy, Gideon Haigh, Michelle de Kretser and Kim Scott.

 

Category: Local news