Grave Fears For Community Radio After Budget Snub

Grave fears for the future of Community Radio are being held today after the widespread and orchestrated campaign from the sector for additional funding fell on deaf Federal Government ears in last night's Federal Budget.

The Community Radio Broadcasting Association Of Australia [CBAA] have today repeated their threats that the future of community radio is now in jeopardy. As recently as last week Gotye had weighed into the discussion, but the Minister Communications Senator Stephen Conroy replied that the sector should be funding itself.

Today CBAA's President Adrian Basso has told theMusic.com.au that community radio stations switching off their digital platforms is a real possibility.

“We have a 40 percent shortfall and we can't continue to operate at that level,” he said. “There are some stations that can't afford that shortfall and if they pull out [of digital] the expenses for everyone else goes up and it unravels.”

The sector claims that Sentator Conroy has stood up and “put his hand on his heart” when offering a commitment towards their digital roll out, but that support has disappeared. They cite $3.6 million in annual costs, of which they've received funding amounting to $2.2 million. Basso argues that the digital framework set up by the Government – whereby the community sector leases equipment off the commercial sector – is behind these costs and as a result they should cough up the extra $1.4 million.

Senator Conroy has expressed to that the Government's $2.2 million injection is adequate “support” and that stations should fund the rest themselves.

“The primary source of funding for community broadcasting, however, has always been and should continue to be drawn from sponsorship and donations from within those communities, independent of government support,” a representative from his office told theMusic.

Basso believes that it is “unrealistic” for community radio to raise the $1.4 million figure required in time.

“We will continue to fight,” he said. “We'll be seeking a meeting with the Minister's Office to see if there's any opportunities there and speaking to the 37 stations with a digital platform to asses out options.

“We're very aware that it's an election year and we'll be looking for a promise from both or any party… we'll be going seat-by-seat, MP by MP.”

Basso said he will be looking to mobilise the 42,000 people who have signed up to support the sector.

Two winners from the Budget were the ABC and SBS, who've been allocated $109.4 over three years. The ABC will receive an additional $89.4 million to build upon their news services and online distribution, and SBS an additional $20 million.

Of that funding Senator Conroy said, “This additional funding will allow the ABC and the SBS to continue to innovate and keep pace with the changing media environment and continue to reflect Australian culture and diversity.”