Recent reports strongly suggest ABC's Lateline is facing the axe. ABC Director Mark Scott and the ABC board are considering cutting Lateline and many other critical programs including weekly state-based TV current affairs, and programs on Radio National such as Background Briefing, The Science Show, The Health Report, The Media Report and The Law Report, as a result of the Abbott government's budget cuts.

But why would the Abbott government want to get rid of the ABC's investigative reporting and programs like Lateline? Many are speculating it's because Lateline has a strong reputation for holding governments and politicians to account by asking the tough questions.

There's still time to try to stop this: the ABC Board meets this Wednesday. Before then, we need to let them know how important quality and independent reporting is to us, the public, and how risky it would be to cut back on investigative reporting, in a time when it is needed most.

Will you write to the ABC Board right now and urge them to protect Lateline?