ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie has rejected calls from within the Liberal party to privatise the public broadcaster, saying the commercial media sector doesn't need a new "advertising behemoth".
Ms Guthrie said such calls were misplaced and ignored the public value of the 86-year-old media group, which is taxpayer-funded.
"The public regards the ABC as a priceless asset, more valuable now than ever in its history," she told the Melbourne Press Club on Tuesday.
"I can appreciate that the ABC would fetch a high price in a commercial market but does the public want a new media organisation that compromises quality and innovation for profit?
"Does the commercial sector want a new advertising behemoth in its midst? I think not."
Ms Guthrie's address comes just days after members of the Liberal Party's federal council voted unanimously to privatise the ABC.
"I refer also to the people of Australia, who regard the ABC as one of the great national institutions and who deeply resent it being used as a punching bag by narrow political, commercial or ideological interests," she said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stepped into the debate on Monday, declaring the ABC would "never be sold".
Ms Guthrie also attacked calls for the ABC to be restricted to "servicing gaps in the media market" and rejected claims of political bias.
She said far from being a drain on the public purse, the ABC contributes more than a $1 billion a year to the Australian economy, employs 4000 staff and helps sustain the jobs of another 2500 people including writers, artists, technicians and transport workers.
"Inherent in the drive against the independent public broadcaster, is a belief that it can be pushed and prodded into different shapes to suit the prevailing climate. It can't. Nor should it be," she said.
Since Ms Guthrie was appointed to ABC's top job two years ago she has worked to cut costs and restructure the broadcaster while facing funding cuts.
In this year's budget, the federal government introduced a three-year funding freeze that slashed $84 million from the ABC, following a decision to axe $43 million in funding for news and current affairs.
Addressing claims the ABC should be forced to live within its means, Ms Guthrie said transmission costs to deliver TV and radio to all Australians were fixed and expensive while its per capita funding had halved in real terms in 30 years.
Ms Guthrie rejected the idea the broadcaster was "under siege" but said it was still working through federal budget cuts dating back to 2014.
"We really have reached the point where further cuts will really impact content services and multiple jobs," she said.
"We're 12 months out from that being a reality."
