Cirrus@Austlit

'The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) main role is to inform, educate and entertain all Australians. The ABC reflects the diversity of interests in the Australian community through a range of distinctive programs of broad and specialist appeal.

'The Australian Government funds the ABC as part of the Budget each year. This funding covers their normal operations and transmission costs as well as capital works and special projects.

'The Australian Government does not direct the ABC on programming matters. Parliament has guaranteed the independence of the national broadcasters to ensure that what they broadcast is free of political interference.

'The ABC is required to develop codes of practice relating to programming matters and lodge the codes with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). In addition, the ABC is accountable to the Parliament through annual reports, corporate plans, financial and performance audits, and appearances before Parliamentary Committees.' (ABC)