Radio Larrakia licence conditions lifted

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has taken away the additional licence conditions it imposed in 1988 on 8KNB 94.5 Darwin, held by the Radio Larrakia community radio Association.

ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman says the original purpose of the additional licence conditions was to ensure that Radio Larrakia met the existing and perceived future needs of the broader indigenous community in Darwin:

“ACMA considers that the interests of the indigenous community in the Darwin licence area continue to be protected by the standard licence condition in the Broadcasting Services Act and that Radio Larrakia’s proposed constitution provides an efficient and effective method of ensuring representation of Larrakia and non-Larrakia people on 8KNB’s board and sub-committees.”

The additional licence conditions were imposed when the licence was allocated in 1998. They required Radio Larrakia to include representatives of Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA) and Larrakia Nation on its board and sub-committees and to open membership to all Darwin residents.

Radio Larrakia requested that ACMA revoke the additional licence conditions when it submitted a proposed revised constitution.

Before making a final decision on the revocation, ACMA consulted with Radio Larrakia, TEABBA and Larrakia Nation, and considered submissions from the public.

ACMA has also been considering a complaint that Radio Larrakia had failed to meet two of its licence conditions: to encourage members of the community to participate in the operations and programming of the service, and to represent its community of interest.

ACMA investigated the complaint and found that Radio Larrakia was not in breach of its obligation to represent its community of interest but was in breach of its obligation to encourage community participation as a result of a freeze on its membership. However, ACMA took into account the fact that the decision to freeze membership was not made by Radio Larrakia but by an authorised external body. It was noted that the breach arose from circumstances not entirely within Radio Larrakia’s control and was not within its power to remedy. Accordingly, ACMA has not taken any enforcement action in these unusual circumstances.