With a Federal election looming, the community broadcasting sector is already campaigning, taking its plight directly to local MPs and the
airwaves to highlight lack of Government funding.

While the ABC was granted an additional $54 million over three years to provide greater regional and local programming, the community
broadcasting sector (70% of which is based in rural and regional areas), was again overlooked.

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) says the campaign is focused on educating Federal politicians about the valuable role of community broadcasting across the country and its many, ongoing beneficial aspects such as media training and access, local programming content, volunteering, support for Australian performers and stations acting as a community hub/lifeblood for local organisations.

The CBAA has sent ‘election kits’ to community stations with materials and resources to help lobby local MPs. In turn, Federal parliamentarians have been sent information about the campaign, letting them know how much money is needed and how it would be spent. MPs and senators have also attended meetings at their local community radio station with CBAA staff members to discuss sector issues and to be interviewed on air on their party’s community broadcasting policy.

Positive feedback has come from Federal MPs, Michael Danby (Melbourne Ports), Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell), Peter McGauren (Gippsland – and
Science Minister), Senator Kate Lundy (Shadow Arts’ Minister), Stewart Macarthur (Corangamite), Catherine King, (Ballarat), Christian Zahra (McMillan), Kevin Rudd (Griffith – and Shadow Foreign Minister), Con Sciacca (Bowman), Paul Neville (Hinkler) and Democrat senator, John Cherry.

The CBAA will send out regular campaign updates. For more information, go to www.cbonline.org.au or email: [email protected]