00:00The upcoming federal election isn't the only thing on the horizon for the chair of the ABC.
00:07I don't think there's any doubt that in the event of Mr Dutton acceding to office
00:14that there would be a very early call for an efficiency and apparently an excellence review on what the ABC does.
00:22Mr Dutton has said repeatedly in recent days he would scrutinise the ABC's spending.
00:28Game on. The ABC is an accountable institution and I have no doubt it will perform well in any such review.
00:35At the Melbourne Press Club today Mr Williams addressed threats to media freedom globally
00:40and described the broadcaster's funding as extremely low by historical standards.
00:46He became teary speaking about the ABC's dedication to communities
00:51and the audience response to recent Cyclone Alfred coverage.
00:55I could read messages like that for hours.
01:00And reflected on times that drew a different emotional response.
01:05Like the pile on he received after making comments about US podcaster Joe Rogan last year.
01:11I did at times with the Joe Rogan experience, the subsequent experience
01:16and the messages from people like Kanye West and Mr Musk
01:23who's directed individual messages to me, sharing their wisdom.
01:29I did at times surrender to a pretty white hot fury.
01:35As the election rolls ever closer he'll be hoping there won't be any renewed call for the fury.
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