The Friends of the ABC NSW(Inc) was established in 1976 to defend the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) against a first set of funding cuts put in by the Coalition government of the day. Since then, the Friends has defended the ABC against threats from both Labor and Coalition governments to compromise its independence and reduce its funding.

The Friends of the ABC NSW(Inc) is not aligned to any political party, but is a lobby group that works on behalf of listeners and viewers of ABC radio and television to support the ABC (Click here for things you can do to help).

All office holders (click here for a list) are unpaid volunteers. This allows us to use the funds collected through subscriptions, donations, events and merchandising (including tee shirts, car stickers, badges and book sales) for campaigning and activities for members.

The Friends of the ABC organisations throughout Australia cooperate to achieve the common objectives of fighting for the ABC and for its editorial independence. We support national initiatives including letter writing campaigns and lobbying of individual members of parliament.

For a national perspective on the structure, aims and objectives of the Friends of the ABC click here.

We do not slavishly support everything that the ABC does and it is our policy to criticise the ABC when we consider that it has strayed from its charter or acted in a way that could jeopardise its long term future.

Click here for a printable copy (in Adobe pdf format) of the constitution of the Friends of the ABC (NSW) Inc

To contact the Friends....

Postal Address:

PO Box 1391,
North Sydney,
NSW 2059

Membership Line: (02) 9990 0600
(NB this is a MessageBank service, which is checked regularly, but not every day)

Email: click here

There are also local branches in many parts of NSW, and the Friends also have an e-mail list to promote discussion, debate and activity on all things ABC.

For details of Friends of the ABC in other states click here.