Independent Indi candidate Helen Haines will push for the ABC to have the indexation freeze on its funding lifted and ensure it stays publicly-funded if elected.
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Responding to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald this week, Dr Haines said she was "deeply concerned" it could be privatised.
"I'm deeply concerned by the call from the Institute of Public Affairs, which is a think-tank that has the ear of the Liberal and National parties, to privatize the ABC," she said.
"I will fight to maintain not only adequate funding, but also the independence of the ABC so it's not a political toy to be played with by major parties.
"I call upon the Liberal and National candidates to step forward with me and guarantee like I am they will fight for the maintenance of the ABC and re-establishment of full funding to the ABC, and that they would fight like I will to ensure it is never privatised."
In other news:
Liberal candidate Steve Martin said the Coalition government had no intention to privatise the ABC.
"What's important is what the policy is, and there's no policy from the government that would in any way give oxygen to this claim," he said.
"I know how vital it is for our regional areas."
Asked if the privatisation of the ABC was something he'd ever support, Mr Martin said 'No'.
In a statement, Nationals candidate Mark Byatt said the ABC "would never be privatised nor sold".
"The Coalition government's investment in the ABC is an important underpinning of media diversity and also a significant Commonwealth contribution to civic journalism in Australia," he said.
"The Government's funding to the ABC is increasing year on year."
Tallangatta Valley community members including Jocelyn Lyon spoke about the importance of the ABC to report on local issues and share information about emergency situations.
"I feel it is the lifeline to a lot of rural people," she said.
"My father is blind and if he didn't have the ABC, he would be lost."