The ABC has lost over $350 million a year in funding since 1985, a new report shows.

The report from think tank PerCapita and activist group GetUp says the LNP has cut nearly $800 million out of the ABC's budget since it came to power under Tony Abbott in 2013.

The national broadcaster now runs on its lowest budget since cuts made under the Howard government.

In total, the ABC has lost $367 million a year since 1985-86 when accounting for inflation, according to the report.

ABC journalist Quentin Dempster agrees that the broadcaster is under increasing.

“We need a strong and independent public broadcaster to hold authority to account without fear or favour,” Mr Dempster told reporters over the weekend.

Planned staff cuts at the ABC are now on hold because of the coronavirus.

“As we emerge from one of the worst pandemics in 100 years, we must decide what kind of society we want to rebuild,” Mr Dempster added.

Almost 1,000 ABC jobs have been lost since 2014, including cuts to state-based versions of certain programs and the axing of entire shows.

GetUp has called on the government to pour $100 million back into the broadcaster.

“Every funding cut must be reversed to keep us safe and keep our democracy thriving,” national director Paul Oosting said.

A separate report last week showed most Australians would pay more tax to bolster news outlets.

The Essential Media report commissioned by the Public Interest Journalism Initiative found 53 per cent of Australians support a proposed $6 per year tax to fund public interest journalism.

“The results of this report show very clearly the value the Australian public in principle places on journalism in our society,” Australian National University economist and lead author Glenn Withers said.

The second study also found 81 per cent of Australians feel that public interest journalism is important, but this rose to 85 per cent when it came to specific issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.