Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Assistant Minister for Social Services) (14:38): I have good news for you, Mr President, and Senator Ludlam and colleagues—that is, the government is absolutely committed to the health and vibrancy of the ABC and SBS. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Pause the clock. Minister. Senator FIFIELD: The government is also committed to ensuring that we repair the budget situation which we inherited courtesy of Labor and the Australian Greens together in coalition in government. It is important to make clear that the ABC and SBS are in no way, shape or form being singled out. All government bodies have been asked to play a part in achieving our goal of fiscal repair. Earlier this year, you would be aware, Mr President, that the government, in cooperation with the ABC and SBS— Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Pause the clock. Minister. Senator FIFIELD: As I was saying, the government, in cooperation with the two public broadcasters, conducted an efficiency study of the national broadcasters' back-of-house operations, and the purpose of the efficiency study I think is well known. It was to assist both the ABC and SBS to manage their businesses more efficiently, to examine their costs of operations and to identify savings through increased efficiencies and reduced expenses without impacting on the quality and extent of program content. The government's position was not that the ABC and SBS should be immune to savings but that those savings should be achieved and effected in an informed manner, hence the purpose of the efficiency review. As Mr Turnbull indicated— The PRESIDENT: Pause the clock. Senator Ludlam on a point of order. Senator Ludlam: Mr President, my point of order, if I may, is on relevance. I asked directly whether the government would guarantee there would be no programming cuts. The senator has only 11 seconds left on the clock. That is a very simple 'yes' or 'no'. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Ludlam. The minister does have 11 seconds left to answer the question. I remind the minister of the question. Senator FIFIELD: The government cannot direct the ABC as to what to do with their funding. Programming decisions are, as they always have been, matters for the board and management of the ABC. (Time expired)