ABC Chairman, Donald McDonald, has warned that if the Federal Government does not provide more money, the national broadcaster might have to cut back on services in years ahead.

He has told an Australian Industry Group forum that the ABC cannot keep up with the growth of new media platforms and struggles to meet the expectations of its traditional media commitments.

McDonald has also indicated Parliament might have to re-examine the ABC’s charter, which is more than 20 years old and does not take account of changes to the media industry.

He says the ABC still has an important role to play in Australian society: ”It is a matter of some pride for the ABC that, for some years now, it’s been doing more with less.

“I believe I have seen the future and, without some courageous commitments by the Parliament, the ABC may well end up, more logically perhaps, doing less with less.”