Community broadcasting in Australia is at the cross roads and strong leadership is required to ensure that community broadcasters are able to meet the demands of their communities in the 21st century Mr. Graeme Macartney President of the Southern Community Media Association said today.
“The role of community broadcasting has expanded since its inception and in some cases Community Radio is the only local electronic media in the community. Community Radio is a /"Volunteer Driven Sector/" that has been the heart and soul of community’s right across our nation. Community Radio is diversity with ethnic programs, indigenous programs, special interest program, local news and information and the entire spectrum of musical genres. Our sector is catering to the Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Communities, and Emerging Communities an important part to play in our ever growing and evolving national melting pot. Give consideration to the role that community radio plays in the integration process of newly arrived people trying to understand and adapt to life in a new country especially with the Federal Governments Citizen Test. The essence of our sector is that community radio is by the community for the community and the ACMA is currently imposing an unrealistically high expectation on a sector that is not only volunteer driven but community committed.
This is particularly evident in times of natural disasters such as bushfires and floods. Government policy needs to be changed to encourage deregulating the industry to ensure that Community Broadcasters are able to respond to their local communities needs.
The guidelines currently being circulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority will take the community broadcasting sector back 20 years Mr. Macartney said.
For far too long the sector has been represented by toothless organisations unwilling to make the hard decisions and stand up and be counted, if community radio is to survive as a strength within the broadcasting sector we need strong representation to government bodies and serious policy to ensure not only the sectors survival but it’s continued growth.
The continually growing number of community licenses that have not or will not be renewed by the ACMA is of grave concern to the Community Broadcasting Sector and it would appear that the Authority have a agenda to reduce the sector and the role it plays within the community.
Mr. Macartney said that the Southern Community Media Association was committed to ensuring that community broadcasters we given the opportunity to provide a significant service to their communities. He called upon all Politicians and other sector bodies to work together to ensure the future of the Community Broadcasting Sector.
Over the last few years we have had many resources researching the sector both through the Community Broadcasting foundation and the House of Representatives inquiry into Community broadcasting. There is an urgent need to have the Australian Government adopt the recommendations of the report and we as an association call upon the Minister to not only adopt the findings of the House of representatives report but to expedite the implementation of those findings.
The time for Action has come; there is no time to continue talking about what should be done. More than ever it is evident that many communities are in danger of losing their local community radio station unless there is a change in current approach to the renewal process by those in positions of authority within the regulator body of Community Broadcasting. The damage that is being done will be extremely hard to repair with stations closing their doors and disposing of equipment there must be immediate action.
Further Information Graeme Macartney President O429003373
