I remember Bob Hawke getting tetchy with us when he thought we were less than enthusiastic over his determination to participate in the first Gulf War. He asked why the ABC was questioning his military commitment instead of getting behind the invasion. Another PM, another war - John Howard took our call in Dubai just after visiting Tony Blair before the Second Iraq War. He thought it unreasonable for me to inquire if his consultations with world leaders on the cusp of war had included speaking to any who were counselling against invasion. He eventually answered by conceding he had not met or spoken with anyone against the war - only those who were for it - but did not take kindly to even being asked. Premiers Liberal and Labor have abused and admonished us, accused us of bias and tried to throw their weight around. We know, as does the audience, that when we cop it from everyone we are getting it about right. The only formal complaint during the state election a few years back came from the Greens.

Without fear or favour, our job requires us to ask anyone we interview the stickiest questions we can think of. That is what you - the audience - expect of us. If we are too scared or intimidated to so do, then we ought to pull the plug. We would be letting you down. I always thought questioning authority was distinctly a part of the Australian character. It has always been part of our national identity to be suspicious of power and those who choose to pursue it. Challenging government is about as Australian as you can get. No one - not even the ABC's most one-eyed supporters - would argue that the corporation is beyond improvement. We can and do explain what we do and why we do it - and the way we do it - more than any other media organisation. To be lectured on broadcasting standards by one of the most-complained-about shock jocks is beyond ironic. Ray Hadley would not survive a moment under the scrutiny that we work with every day. There were no extra millions in special funding for iView, nor for News 24, nor for the continuing and vital commitment to emergency broadcasting - yet along with digital radio, streaming, blogging, content on apps for iPhone and Android, the ABC has led the way. Sure, there may be better ways of organising things. But please - let us not spend more on management when what is needed is more and better content. There are 60 ABC local radio stations live on air across Australia. Add national networks RN and Triple J, News Radio and Classic FM. Our footprint covers Asia with radio and TV signals. Multi-channelling of ABC TV means we are pumping out more shows than ever.

The online opinion pieces and blogs provide greater diversity and lead debate. Neglected remote pockets of regional Australia depend on the ABC entirely. They are our most impassioned champions whenever our worth is queried. Commercial rivals resent our reach. Every ratings point we achieve they see as at their expense. Every reader of ABC news online is a potential subscriber who got away. Every fan who listens to the footy without ads is a set of eardrums they cannot profit from. It is their view that the ABC has become too big for its boots. In their version of the media landscape, we are allowed a small part of the action - but not to the point where we cost them so much. They would like to see iView put onto a subscription model. They would like the ABC to abandon sport - AFL, NRL, soccer and cricket in particular. They may lobby for the selloff of Triple J. They will want on-line news and opinion curbed or reduced. They may suggest a merger between ABC and SBS. They will suggest ads. Anything where they sense a revenue stream, they will want the ABC taken out of the equation. Loading Whether or not they get what they want will determine what you hear, see and read in the future. Ask Vladimir.

Jon Faine hosts Mornings on 774 ABC Melbourne each weekday from 8.30am.