News

Community radio contemplates public campaign against proposed cuts

Screen Shot 2014-05-02 at 11.09.18 AMThe industry association which represents the hundreds of community radio stations across Australia, the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA), is threatening a public campaign against recommendations to cut more than $17.5m in funding to the sector.

The Federal Government’s Commission of Audit report released yesterday recommended the government scrap funding for the Community Broadcasting Program on the grounds it already funds public broadcasters the ABC and SBS, adding there was a “limited rationale” in also providing funding to community radio. 

Jon Bissett, general manager of CBAA told Mumbrella the impact of any cuts to the program would be dramatic. “This will have a significant impact. This funding is taken by more than 150 stations around the country for various things that would be put at significant risk,” said Bissett.

“We are putting in place a campaign probably for next week. We are just waiting to hear back on a little bit more information from the minister and others. Once we get those facts we will decide if we push the button.”

The report also recommended cutting budgets for Screen Australia, Tourism Australia, and assistance for smaller businesses to market themselves overseas.

Bissett said the community radio sector received more than $17.5m in grants and that the cuts threatened the funding used by many stations to transmit along with key national news programs such as The Wire and National Radio News.

“Many many stations rely on this funding,” he said. “It is $17.5m that we are talking about and while the sector as a whole turns over around $80m this is a vital percentage of our income because it funds things like transmission. This money is critical to these community radio stations.”

Melanie Withnall managing director of Sydney community radio station 2SER, which produces a large part of The Wire, said a cut to funding would possibly jeopardise the continued running of the show.

“One of the grants we get is for The Wire which is a national current affairs show,” Withnall. “That is very valuable program and that is something that if we didn’t have the funding from the Community Broadcasting Foundation then that is something we might not be able to do.

“This is really important. It’s not just for us but also for a lot of smaller community stations, it is your sub metro and regional stations who need that government funding.”

Adrian Basso, general manager of Melbourne community radio station PBS and president of CBAA  said the recommendation showed a lack of understanding about the role of community radio in Australia”and the significant contribution it makes to media diversity in the country”.

He added: “For local communities, community broadcasting is vital. It plays a crucial role in providing a voice for communities that aren’t adequately serviced by other broadcasting sectors including Indigenous Australians, ethnic communities, the print and vision impaired, young people and seniors.”

Bissett said they were hopeful the Coalition would choose not to act on the recommendation in the forthcoming budget.

“The Coalition Government has traditionally been very supportive of community broadcasting. I mean they were the one who initiated the program many years ago” he said.

“We would be very surprised and very disappointed if they did cut this. We have had some initial discussions with the minister’s office since the announcement was made and we are hoping for clarification today.”

At the time of posting the Minister for Communications’ office had not responded to requests for comment.

Nic Christensen 

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