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Whatsapp New Communications and Arts Minister Mitch Fifield is sworn in by Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove.

In his first interview since being sworn in as minister for communications and minister for the arts, Senator Mitch Fifield revealed his views on the privatisation of the ABC, the future of arts funding and rumoured changes to the roll-out of the NBN.

Australia's new minister for communications, Senator Mitch Fifield, says the new federal government cabinet is supportive of the ABC and will not seek to privatise the organisation.

pq As a government, we will make sure the ABC is well resourced to do the job that Australians want it to do.

Senator Fifield is previously on record as saying there is 'merit' to privatising the ABC.

Speaking during his first interview since being sworn in to his new portfolio on Monday, he distanced himself from those comments, made in 2008.



'I was, I confess, seven or eight years ago a frisky backbencher, who sought to give a provocative speech,' he told RN Drive.

'Changing the ownership arrangements of the ABC is not something that I am seeking to do.'

The ABC was subject to funding cuts of $254 million over five years under the previous communications minister and now prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

Senator Fifield said it was important that all Commonwealth agencies continue to identify similar efficiencies.

'As a general principle, any Commonwealth agency should look to be the best possible steward of taxpayer dollars that it can be.

'I've yet to come across a Commonwealth agency that has achieved administrative Nirvana.

'One thing is certain: as a government, we will make sure the ABC is well resourced to do the job that Australians want it to do.

'We are a government that recognises the important role that the ABC plays.'

The relationship between the government and the ABC became further strained after former Prime Minister Tony Abbott issued a Coalition boycott of the television program Q&A.

Senator Fifield told RN Drive that under the newly arranged cabinet of Prime Minister Turnbull, the government 'would not be strangers' to the ABC.

Arts funding

Senator Fifield also assumes the role of minister for the arts; a position previously held by Attorney-General George Brandis.

Senator Brandis was subject to vocal criticism from a large section of the arts community over his changes to arts funding, but the new arts minister did not suggest those changes would be reversed.

'It is important to put into perspective what George [Brandis] was seeking to do,' said Senator Fifield.

'We are talking about $26 million a year that has been shipped from the Australia Council. The Australia Council still has an annual budget of $185 million, which is not insignificant.

'We are not cutting a dollar from the arts portfolio.'

He said the exact model of Senator Brandis' planned National Program for Excellence in the Arts would take on board feedback from over 300 submissions prior to being finalised.

NBN roll-out

Media reports have suggested Prime Minister Turnbull is considering revising the roll-out of the National Broadband Network to include more fibre-to-the-home technology.

Senator Fifield did not confirm the reports, but stated the government was 'technology agnostic'.

'We're not fixated with any particular technology to roll out the NBN.

'Over time, there is the capacity for an evolution of where the balance of technological solutions lie.'

During his wide-ranging interview with RN Drive's Patricia Karvelas, Senator Fifield revealed that of the various arts, 1980s music and specifically, The Pet Shop Boys, were among his favourites.

RN Drive takes you behind the day’s headlines, with an engaging mix of current affairs, analysis, arts and culture from across Australia and around the world.