I don’t disagree at all. That said, I also want to say I’m glad the ABC exists as a state-funded channel, and it’s no secret that I’m very critical of the governments who have held the levers. The main reason I’m glad is because without state-funded channels, we see a more-or-less dominance of the owning class controlling the vast majority of mass media in the hands of the mega-rich and using it to pursue their financial interests and fill the remaining airtime with for-profit drivel. The ABC enables creators to create art and educational shows far far more than commercial media does, it reminds me of George Lucas talking about the filmmaking industry and artistic freedom. When the channel isn’t desperate to make money, the employees have more real freedom. And like you said, the ABC is still dependent on the government allowing them to get funding, and they often kow-tow to receive it, but it’s miles better than having to please a major shareholder board and major advertisers who don’t want to be criticised.

As you’ve described, the ABC certainly has pressures which bias it against neutrality, and you’ve proposed some good alternatives which reduce these biases.