The musical theme from children’s show Play School became a protest song on Friday afternoon, as a 200-strong crowd sang out against the government’s cuts to the ABC outside Wollongong Town Hall.
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Waving placards quoting Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s election-eve promise that there would be ‘‘No cuts to the ABC or SBS’’ and saying ‘‘Shame Tony, Shame’’, the crowd cheered along with political speakers, chanting ‘‘No ifs, no buts, no ABC cuts’’.
The rally was one of about 20 being held this week, in opposition to the $254 million budget cut to the national broadcaster.
Unveiled on Wednesday by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, the cuts are expected to affect programming and wipe out hundreds of jobs around the country.
Throsby MP Stephen Jones addressed the Wollongong crowd, saying he would take the strong local message of support for the ABC to the government.
‘‘It might be hot here in Wollongong today, but it’s going to be even hotter in Canberra on Monday when we deliver the message from Wollongong, that the people of the Illawarra will not stand for these atrocious cuts to the ABC,’’ he said.
Cunningham MP Sharon Bird said the ABC was a vital part a strong regional media, which was needed to keep the government ‘‘answerable to the people’’.
‘‘We rely on the ABC to be there when the commercials continue to pull out of regional communities ... to have our voice, our stories and our news heard,’’ she said.
Wollongong Greens councillor Jill Merrin also spoke, saying regional ABC broadcasting was especially important during emergencies, while South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris urged Wollongong’s politicians and business leaders to pull together.
‘‘Let’s all speak with one voice and save our ABC,’’ he said.
The ABC employs the equivalent of 14 full-time staff in the Illawarra, with 12 positions in Wollongong and two in Nowra.
It it not known how many, if any, of these jobs will be lost, with announcements on redundancies expected early next week.