“The ABC is negotiating the great shift, from 20th century broadcaster into 21st century digital media organisation,” acting ABC Chairman Steven Skala told parliamentarians in a speech in Canberra last week. Referring to the Convergence Review report, he said: “In its interim report last December the Convergence Review foreshadowed a review of the ABC charter. If it eventuates, the ABC will engage fully in the process. The contemporary media environment is changing, but fundamental values endure.”

The full text of his speech is below.

This means remarkable change as our organizational focus moves from separate distribution of content on television, radio and online to seamless distribution of content independent of device.

The ABC is becoming the source of trusted content anywhere, any time, and any how.

The nature of contemporary media is such that the ABC must always have an eye to the future.

In doing so, the wisdom of the past can guide us on some fundamental matters.

Eighty years ago, visionaries in the young Federal Parliament brought the ABC into existence.

It was an act of genius for the type of democracy Australia was to become.

Back in 1932, Radio was the ascendant medium.

Our elected representatives saw the potential for a national public radio service to bring Australians together – regardless of income or geography – earning their trust and enriching their lives.

It was and remains an unusual business model.

Funded by the Commonwealth, but by statute and convention independent of it, it had a clear mandate to inform, educate and entertain free of political and commercial influence and ideological predisposition.

It was a bold experiment in earning the trust of all Australians and to date, the experiment continues to be a worthy and fundamental part of the nation’s distinctively Australian infrastructure.

It is part of the institutional cement that supports a distinctively Australian democracy.

The public’s trust was won by the successful execution of independent and unbiased broadcasting that reflects Australian values relating to democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, fairness and an absence of discrimination.

Its influence emerges from two propositions: first, it should clearly delineate between fact and opinion; and secondly, it should have no actual or potentially competing cause other than reporting the truth.

By doing this well, the ABC earns the public’s trust.

Recent evidence of this can be found in the report of the Finkelstein Inquiry, which looked at accountability and public trust in the Australian press.

It was pleasing to see Mr Finkelstein’s report acknowledge that the ABC is Australia’s most trusted source of news and information.

The impact of the ABC on Australia remains profound. Its challenge is to ensure it continues to justify the parliament’s faith.

Maintaining public trust is the key.

To the extent that the clear delineation between fact and opinion blurs, or opinion is shaped other than by disinterested disclosure and open debate, the fabric of the institution can be weakened, its role can be diminished, and the public’s trust can decline.

The nation relies on us to walk this clear but delicate line.

In getting it right the ABC informs and feeds the democracy.

It proves the worthiness of the noble experiment.

The central importance of trust becomes clearer when we think about it, not in an institutional sense, but in a personal sense.

A person who has a duty to secure the interests or the guardianship of another must have no actual or potential competing interest or cause.

If they serve the interests of that other person, they will engender trust.

No matter how good the guardian is, the trust reposed in them will erode if the beneficiary of that trust believes that the beneficiary’s interests are not paramount in the eyes of the guardian.

The trust drains away if the beneficiary believes the guardian is seeking collateral benefit or personal advantage.

We are all guardians, and being in this place reminds us that public trust is the fundamental cornerstone of our rather good form of democracy.

While the ABC is almost eighty, it still has a sense of momentum and promise.

It’s still going places.

What we do is dynamic and much has changed since our ABC Act was last reviewed 30 years ago.

The current legislation does not ( could not) contemplate the internet, digital technology, Facebook, Google, Twitter or other social media, personal mobile communication devices, Ipads and the astonishing array of computing power, data processing capacity and manipulative software applications.

In its interim report last December the Convergence Review foreshadowed a review of the ABC charter.

If it eventuates, the ABC will engage fully in the process.

The contemporary media environment is changing, but fundamental values endure.

There is much that is good to preserve.

The ABC has been a continuous thread running through Australian life from last century to this, connecting Australians in the national conversation.

Long may it remain our most trusted media institution.