Commonwealth support for ABC's Asian TV service criticised

Services Minister Jim McGinty says the Federal Government is 'jumping the gun' in providing financial assistance to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for the extension of the broadcaster's television service to Asia.

Mr McGinty was commenting on the recent announcement by the Federal Government that the Corporation would spend $11 million to establish satellite broadcast links with the region.

The Minister said that while the creation of an international television service was an admirable idea, it should be given a much lower priority than the provision of basic domestic television services to all Australians.

"There are tens of thousands of Western Australians who pay for the Special Broadcasting Service through their Federal taxes, but are unable to receive SBS," Mr McGinty said.

"It seems inappropriate to spend $11 million of taxpayers' money to beam ABC programs into Asia - when Australians living in rural and remote areas are told it is too expensive to provide them with certain broadcast services."

Mr McGinty said there was also still no accepted plan by the Federal Government to ensure that the Golden West Satellite Network could afford to continue to serve small rural communities with the introduction of the second generation of Optus satellites.

"Instead, people in rural areas keep on being told about the merits of pay television and extending ABC services overseas," he said.

"Surely obligations to provide acceptable basic television services for Australians must come before international public relations exercises and boutique services such as pay television."