Christmas comes early for community broadcasting with $27 million funding boost

September 23 marked the 50^th anniversary of the historic decision by the Whitlam government in 1974 to establish community broadcasting in Australia.

Now the sector has received a welcome Christmas present in the form of a $27 million funding injection from the federal government.

A three-year funding package announced by Communications Minister Michelle Rowland this week included $15 million for community TV and radio broadcasting.

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, announced a further $12 million for Indigenous broadcasting and media.

Community broadcasters deliver more than 500 AM, FM and DAB+ (digital) services and two dedicated TV services that collectively reach an audience of more than 5.19 million people across Australia each week.

Despite the sector’s success, Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) CEO Jon Bisset said the additional federal funding was sorely needed.

“The existing programs have not been funded to keep pace with rising costs nor respond to the contemporary challenges and needs of broadcasters,” he said.

Bisset said the funding injection followed an industry-wide consultation process as part of Canberra’s Community Broadcasting Sustainability Review.

“We are very pleased the government are responding to stations’ needs with urgency and moving on additional funding now,” said Bisset.

“This new funding will address an evident need for additional government support.

“It will ease the pressure on the existing grant funding programs that are struggling to meet the demand from local stations and the communities they serve.”

Bisset said as the Sustainability Review concluded, CBAA would continue to work with Canberra to secure adequate long-term resourcing that enabled community broadcasters to increase their positive impact in communities.

He also welcomed the federal government’s $153.5 million investment over four years to support local news, public interest journalism and media literacy.

“Community-controlled media has a big role to play in Australia’s future,” he said.

“People around the country are seeking out local, independent media alternatives that help them to stay informed and connected – that contribute to building strong, resilient and harmonious communities.”

Bisset said community broadcasting is powered by more than 18,000 volunteers and almost 1,000 full-time staff working for the wellbeing of their communities.

“These stations provide independent news and share local-level information that other media does not, they build community resilience in the face of disasters, they cater for diverse artistic tastes and provide a vital platform for new Australian music.

“They reflect Australia’s diversity and make our society stronger.”

Communications Minister Rowland said local news and community broadcasting was at the heart of local communities and made a vital contribution to national identity and media diversity in Australia.

“Community broadcasters provide millions of Australians with localised news, information and entertainment and the government is providing additional funding as it works with the sector on the Community Broadcasting Sector Sustainability Review”.

The federal funding announcement followed the release last year of a 10-year plan for the future of community broadcasting in Australia, Roadmap 2033.

The blueprint was developed by the community broadcasting sector following extensive consultation with stations, staff, volunteers and industry experts and included detailed research, data, analysis and survey results.

More information

50 not out: celebrating half a century of community broadcasting

Community broadcasting's vital role in Australia’s future