Funds Under Threat 2014

Funding for the community broadcasting sector is under threat. Ethnic programs could stop and radio stations be forced to close.

Funding could be cut in the Federal Budget to be announced next week on Tuesday 13 May 2014, if the government agrees with the National Commission of Audit Report.

At the 2013 NEMBC National Conference in Brisbane, The Hon. Wyatt Roy MP, Federal Member for Longman, represented Prime Minister Tony Abbott and delivered a speech on his behalf at the NEMBC Conference opening speeches. Please find the message from the Hon. Tony Abbott MP here and a video of the Hon. Wyatt Roy’s speech here.

The report has suggested abolishing ALL FUNDING to community broadcasting.

This is URGENT! We need your help to resist the cuts.

What you can do

Tell the Government the importance of ethnic community broadcasting

• Sign our online petition and ask others to sign.
• Email Treasurer Joe Hockey via the CBAA Commit to Community Radio site.
• Email, call or tweet at the Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull MP:
  Email – malcolm.turnbull.mp@aph.gov.au
  Phone – 02 9327 3988
  Twitter – @TurnbullMalcolm

On your program and at your station

• Discuss the issue on air and encourage your listeners to take action. You can read out the NEMBC Media Release or other material on this website.
• Play our Community Service Announcement on your program. Download the CSA recorded by 4EB (right click and “save link as” – you can also listen below) or read the text script out on your program.
  
• Print and display this poster at your radio station.

In your community

• Ask for support from ethnic and multicultural organisations by asking them to send letters and make statements.
• Get your organisation, family or friends involved.
• Use Facebook, Twitter and other social media to spread the word.

Talking points and other resources

• ‘Ethnic community radio at risk of losing all funds‘, media release from NEMBC
• ‘Community radio will “die a slow death” if audit cuts adopted‘, Deborah Gough, The Age
• ‘Proposed cuts to community radio spark fears for ethnic communities‘, media release from Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA)
• ‘Community radio at risk under audit cuts‘, media release from Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)
• Form letter to Treasurer Joe Hockey on CBAA’s Commit to Community Radio website
• Message from the Prime Minister, this was a letter sent to us by Prime Minister Abbott to show his support for ethnic community broadcasting. His message was delivered to us at the 2013 NEMBC Conference
• City Park Radio’s submission to government
• 3ZZZ Melbourne’s ethnic community radio station’s submission to government

We need to let the government know that there has been over 30 years of bipartisan support for ALL community broadcasting.

We hope that the government will see reason when it develops its budget over the coming week but we need to make our voices heard.