In tonight’s Federal budget the Government announced funding of $82.6 million in 2003-04, $83.6 million in 2004-05 and $85.1 million in 2005-06.

“This funding will help SBS continue to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain Australians and reflect Australia’s multicultural society,” according to Communications Minster Alston.

The Government will also exempt SBS from the ongoing efficiency dividend, “ensuring that the broadcaster’s triennial funding is maintained in real terms in accordance with the Coalition’s election commitment. This exemption will benefit SBS to the tune of $5.1 million over the 2003-04 to 2005-06 triennium-$0.8 million in 2003-04, $1.7 million in 2004-05 and $2.6 million in 2005-06.”

The Government will also continue the additional funding to SBS for its overseas program acquisition costs, which was first provided in the 2000-01 to 2002-03 triennium as a response to the rise in the overseas programming costs resulting from the increased demand for the types of programs that SBS provides. SBS will receive $11 million over the 2003-04 to 2005-06 triennium for this purpose.

As a result of this Budget, SBS will receive a total of $151.1 million (plus funding for digital interference) in Federal Government funding in 2003-04, and in excess of $470 million from 2003-04 to 2005-06.