Communications & mediaStatutory authorityExists today
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
ABC
1 July 1983 – present
Previously Australian Broadcasting Commission (1932–1983).
Australia's national public broadcaster, providing radio, television, online and international services under a charter to inform, educate and entertain.
Names over time
- Australian Broadcasting Commission1932–1983
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation1983–present
How it came into existence
The Australian Broadcasting Commission continued as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation under the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, which took effect on 1 July 1983 following the 1981 Dix review of the ABC.
Legislation: Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983
Main functions
- National radio networks
- National television channels
- Online, streaming and digital services
- International broadcasting
- News and current affairs
- Emergency broadcasting
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
- Accountable authority
- ABC Board – Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 sections 5 and 7, with reference to sections 13A and 18 notes (membership section 12)
- ABN
- 52 429 278 345
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))