Ita Buttrose calls for more funding for greater ABC role in Asia-Pacific

ABC chair says journalism's importance to Australia's interests in region 'cannot be underestimated'

ABC chair Ita Buttrose has called for additional funding for international broadcasting so the public broadcaster can be a "clarion" voice of trusted news and play a bigger role in soft diplomacy in the region.

"The importance of journalism to our country's Asia-Pacific interests cannot be underestimated and I believe a renewed ABC focus on international broadcasting would greatly benefit Australia," Buttrose said in her Lowy Institute media lecture.