Former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister Tim Fischer has defended the public funding of the ABC, in stark contrast to Liberal party membership.
On Saturday, the Liberal federal council passed a motion with a two-to-one majority calling on the coalition to sell off the ABC, except in regional areas.
"Good, bad or interesting, the ABC is part of the core, official fabric of the nation and should never be sold," Mr Fischer told AAP on Sunday.
But Labor has latched onto the successful motion, with opposition leader Bill Shorten claiming Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is at odds with his base.
"If you love the ABC, you'd be wise to not trust Mr Turnbull," Mr Shorten told reporters in Tasmania on Sunday.
"This idea that somehow Mr Turnbull and the Liberal Party are two separate entities, two strangers at a bar, is rubbish."
Government frontbencher Josh Frydenberg backed Saturday's assurance from Treasurer Scott Morrison that the government had no plans for privatisation.
"The Liberal party membership are entitled to their views and are as frustrated as we are from time to time about the coverage on the ABC," Mr Frydenberg told Sky News on Sunday.
"But the reality is this is an iconic national institution which will remain in the public's hands."
Finance minister Mathias Cormann went further, saying the coalition will not be privatising the ABC.
"If that is the most important issue that the Labor party wants to focus on, a policy change that is not happening, while they are voting against more investment and more jobs in Australia, then go their hardest," he said.
Labor's communication spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said the federal council motion was proof the Liberals were out to destroy the ABC.
"It's official, the Liberals do not support public broadcasting and (they) want to sell off the ABC," she said.
"The out-of-touch Liberals want to dismantle a vital institution in our democracy and silence the independent voice that has spoken to and of our nation for over 85 years."
Ms Rowland claimed privatising the ABC could mean advertisements during programming and putting high-quality Australian content behind a paywall.
Labor also called on the National Party leadership to call out their coalition partner over the vote.
"This has everything to do with the Liberals' obsession with culture wars," Labor's regional communications spokesman Stephen Jones said.
"And nothing to do with providing good quality programming and services to regional Australia."
Australian Associated Press
