The Federal Government has announced it will conduct an inquiry into the efficiency of the operations of the ABC and SBS.

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced yesterday that his department would complete the study with the help of Seven West Media's former chief financial officer, Peter Lewis.

The study will examine the costs of day-to-day operations and propose options to increase efficiency and reduce expense.

The decision comes a day after Prime Minister Tony Abbott claimed the ABC was unpatriotic in its coverage of the Edward Snowden leaks and asylum seeker abuse claims.

In a statement, the Government says "it is a routine responsibility... to ensure that the ABC and SBS use public resources as efficiently as possible".

"The objective is to ensure ABC and SBS fulfil their charter responsibilities at least cost to the community, and keep pace with rapidly changing practices in the broadcasting sector," it added.

The study will not review the broadcaster's charters, or its editorial and programming decisions.

Turnbull says review has nothing to do with recent ABC criticism

Opposition communications spokesman Jason Clare says the Government has announced the review just after strongly criticising the ABC.

"This is not about finding efficiencies, it's about cutting the ABC's budget," he said.

"The Prime Minister gets some bad news and suddenly he starts blaming the media."

Mr Turnbull says the review is not in response to growing criticism within the Government of the broadcaster.

The study aims to: Identify the real current and expected future costs of each output of the ABC and the SBS

Identify the real current and expected future costs of each output of the ABC and the SBS Test those costs against better practice broadcasting operational models and practices and quantify differences

Test those costs against better practice broadcasting operational models and practices and quantify differences Identify the options available to the broadcasters to improve efficiencies and the benefits and risks of such options

Identify the options available to the broadcasters to improve efficiencies and the benefits and risks of such options Identify any impediments to implementation of such options - this analysis may go to operational, governance, structural, financial and cultural issues within each organisation

Identify any impediments to implementation of such options - this analysis may go to operational, governance, structural, financial and cultural issues within each organisation Develop an 'ideal cost-base' for the national broadcasters and compare this with current cost base.

"[It's] completely coincidental. I foreshadowed some time ago we'd be looking at the efficiencies of the public broadcasters and this study has been some time in the making," he told the ABC's Mark Colvin.

"We've had a lot of cooperation from the management of ABC and SBS.

"What it is designed to do is to ensure that the ABC is running its business as cost-effectively as possible.

"The study is not looking at the editorial policies of the ABC, nor looking at the programming content."

Mr Turnbull maintains the Government is not attacking the public broadcaster, saying: "There is no assault on the ABC".

"There is no more passionate defender of the ABC than me," he added.

Sorry, this video has expired Malcolm Turnbull speaks with PM's Mark Colvin

"I've said again and again that I believe the ABC is a vitally important part of our nation's polity; it is one of the great foundations of journalism and newsgathering and broadcasting in the country.

"It has a very special place in Australia, in particular because it has a statutory obligation to be at all times objective and balanced and fair and accurate in its news and current affairs."

He says the ABC has to "play it straight down the middle, and that is part of the bargain with the Australian people".

"In return for that, of course, it gets funded."

In a statement, ABC managing director Mark Scott says the broadcaster will work with the department on the study.

"The ABC has constantly reviewed its operations to deliver the best and most efficient return to Australian audiences," he said.

"We have been in consultation with the Minister and will work with the department and Mr Lewis on this new study."

Australia Network's future remains in the balance

Mr Abbott, meanwhile, has been tight-lipped about the future of the Australia Network television contract.

The previous Labor government awarded the contract to the ABC over Sky, after a botched tender process.

Mr Abbott has deflected questions about the channel's future in the wake of reports that Cabinet is likely to scrap it in the May budget.

"I think it was a particularly dodgy piece of work by the former government; we're working our way through it and if there's more to say, it'll be said in due course."

Major parties divided over criticism of ABC

Critics within the Government have been pressuring the Prime Minister to rein in the ABC ever since the Coalition won power.

The issue was raised in the party room last year, with Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi calling on the Government to partly alleviate its budget crisis by slashing the broadcaster's budget.

Senator Bernardi's colleague Ian Macdonald has previously told the ABC there are many Government MPs who feel the ABC's charter should be made legally enforceable to address concerns of left-wing bias.

Mr Abbott has also questioned the ABC's newly established Fact Check unit, saying he wanted the corporation to focus on straight newsgathering and reporting.

The Federal Opposition has leapt to the defence of the ABC, describing it as a longstanding part of Australia's cultural fabric.

The Greens have also seized on Mr Abbott's remarks, warning the Federal Government is "coming after" the national broadcaster.

The department will deliver its final report in April.