ABC 'will never be sold': Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull has emphatically ruled out any move by the government to sell the ABC.

Trying to head off attacks from Labor, the prime minister said the broadcaster "will always be in public hands".

"It will never be sold. That is my commitment," Mr Turnbull said.

"It is a public broadcaster. It always has been. And always will be."

The government has been under fire since the Liberal Party national conference passed a motion calling for the sell-off, except in regional areas.

Treasurer Scott Morrison and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann also rushed to pour water on any plan to privatise the ABC.

The Opposition seized on the motion, amid criticism of the broadcaster from within the government over its political coverage.

The Coalition has lodged several complaints to the ABC management over a number of articles and broadcast news reports.

The government fears the non-binding motion will spark a Labor campaign similar to its "Medi-scare" campaign in the 2016 election.