SBS no longer needed: Liberal senator

Outspoken Liberal senator Eric Abetz has suggested public broadcaster SBS has had its day.

The country did not need a media outlet that didn't celebrate the unity of Australia, he said of the multicultural and multilingual broadcaster.

"I think the taxpayer dollar needs to be spent in a wiser fashion," Senator Abetz told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday as he questioned the need for SBS to remain as an individual entity.

Greens communications spokesman Scott Ludlam hit back at the comments.

"I think there are better uses of taxpayer funds than Senator Abetz," he said.

SBS had a role distinct from the ABC and any attempt to merge the two broadcasters would lead to a growing uniformity of voices, he said.