Community Broadcasters Disappointed by Federal Budget
Author: FSG | Source: FSG | Date: 13-05-04
Once again the federal government has ignored the calls from community broadcasters around the country to help fund the vital services they provide.
The federal budget is a great disappointment for the 20,000 plus volunteers who give their time to stations in an effort to enhance their communities and an affront to the 3.3 million listeners and 3.6 million viewers who regularly use and value the services they produce.
From Fitzroy Crossing to Sydney, Taree to Albany and Launceston to Darwin community broadcasters are producing local news and information, informing and entertaining the community, broadcasting emergency services information, presenting programs for ethnic, Indigenous and other special interest groups and much more.
While the ABC has been granted an additional $54.4 million over three years to provide greater regional and local programming, the community broadcasting sector- where over 70% of licensed stations are in rural, regional and remote areas - has been overlooked.
President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, Paul Terdich pointed out that 23% of community radio stations are the only radio service in their area or the only service producing local content.
“While we applaud greater funding for the ABC, we remind the government that if they were serious about promoting regional and local broadcasting they would have granted more funding to the community broadcasting sector, which has more broadcasting outlets across the country than either the commercial or national broadcasting sectors.
“The community sector has grown immensely in size since 1996, yet federal government funding has remained the same. If funding had remained on par with the growth of the sector, it would currently be receiving $9.3m a year, $4m more than it is currently allocated.”
The lack of government funding affects all parts of the community broadcasting sector.
"Last night's budget outcome is not good news for the RPH sector" said Peter Luckett, RPH Australia Chairman. "Funding to this unique Community Broadcasting Sub Sector has not increased in real terms since 1993. In the ten years since then the RPH sector has more than doubled in size from seven to fifteen full time services, providing vital access to high turnover printed information on a daily basis for more than 2 million Australians with a print disability. With the limited funding available, cuts to services are inevitable."
George Zangalis, President of the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council said, "Once again, the Federal Government budget leaves ethnic community broadcasters disappointed and out in the cold. The budget shows us that the government does not seriously value the efforts that ethnic community broadcasters make in informing, educating and entertaining a large section of the Australian community. These are the tireless efforts of volunteers, to which the government contributes only 10-15% of what is required to sustain the growing sector."
In light of the projected budget surplus, the community broadcasting sector called upon all political parties to commit to an additional $10.8 million in funding for community broadcasting as part of their policy platforms in the upcoming federal election.
For interviews, please contact:
Mr Paul Terdich, President
Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
0428 888 907
Mr George Zangalis, President
National Ethnic & Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council
03 5750 1609
Mr Peter Luckett, Chairman
RPH Australia
0417 170 803
Mr John Martin, President
Community Broadcasting Foundation
02 9281 4481
For further details on the community broadcasting sector’s proposal for adequate funding of community broadcasting please refer to: