It is partially funded by Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, as well as some advertising (unlike the ABC's domestic television services).

In 2001, the government announced a five-year, A$50-million tender for the service – at the time watched primarily by Australian expatriates for its news programmes, football coverage, and children's programming.

[7][8] The tender was renewed in 2005; the ABC was re-awarded control of the service until 8 August 2011, over other applicants including Sky News Australia.

In 2010 the Rudd government invited media organisations to submit tenders to deliver the Australia Network for 10 years.

In November 2011, the Government closed the tender, "due to significant leaks of confidential information to the media", and asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate.

On 5 December 2011, the Government announced that the Australia Network would no longer be open to tender and that the ABC would take over its operations permanently.

[13] In the 2014–2015 Australian federal budget by the Abbott government,[5] all funding to the Australia Network was cut and its closure was announced, days before it was about to sign a contract with Shanghai Media Holdings to begin broadcasting in China (making it only the third foreign broadcaster with access to the country).

The channel continued to broadcast entertainment, sports, education and English learning shows from ABC through Asia and Pacific partners.

[17] In 2015, the New Zealand government established Pasifika TV, a service providing Pacific island broadcasters with a 24/7 feed of sport, news and other content.

In August 2016, three commercial partners, the Government of Victoria, vitamin and supplement company Swisse and Monash University signed contracts with Australia Plus.

[35] ABC Radio Australia was launched in 1939, and continues to broadcast in the Asia-Pacific region although no longer on short-wave transmission, so does not reach all of the remote islands.