Axing Lateline would be lazy: Turnbull

It won't be the Abbott government's fault if the ABC decides to axe Lateline, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says.

The coalition cut the ABC's funding by $35.5 million in the May Budget.

As a result, the ABC is considering axing current affairs program Lateline and state-based 730 editions.

However Mr Turnbull says programming cuts were the "laziest" way for a public broadcaster to save money.

A recent efficiency study of the ABC showed there were ample savings to be made in other areas, but required the national broadcaster to restructure, reform and modernise, he said.

"The ABC may choose to cut programming rather than tackle back office and administrative costs - but that's the ABC's call," Mr Turnbull said on his blog on Tuesday.

"The savings sought from the ABC are not of a scale that will require reductions in program expenditure."