Australia’s Minister for Communications, The Hon Michelle Rowland met with the community broadcasting Sector Roundtable on Wednesday 21st September.
This was the first meeting with the Minister since the Albanese Government was sworn in and members of the roundtable were excited to hear about the new Government’s plans. Roundtable members thanked the Minister for the new Government’s commitment to a $29m regional, local and community media package which promises $12m for community radio ($4m a year over three years), securing the sector’s minimum base level of funding at just over $20m per annum.
At the meeting, the Minister spoke about her high regard for community broadcasting and her commitment to support the sector to continue to play a strong role into the future. Minister Rowland recognised the important contribution that community broadcasters make to Australian media diversity. The Minister has already visited a number of community stations and her first visit as Minister was to Braidwood FM, in recognition of the critical information community broadcasters have provided to local communities during the 2019 Black Summer Bushfires, recent floods and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Strong community broadcasting creates strong communities,” said Minister Rowland.
The Minister said Government is committed to achieving outcomes that achieve a better future for all Australians. In the area of media and communications policy the Government is focused on supporting a sustainable and diverse media sector and has committed to consulting the community sector as they begin to consider priority areas for reform.
“I very much look forward to continue working with the Community Broadcasting sector as Communications Minister.”
The Roundtable is convened by the CBAA and consists of representatives from:
- The Australian Community Television Alliance (ACTA)
- Christian Media & Arts Australia (CMAA)
- The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)
- First Nations Media Australia (FNMA)
- The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC)
- RPH Australia (RPHA), and
- The Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF)
Visit https://www.cbaa.org.au/