Labor & Greens Commit To Keep Community Radio

To coincide with the #keepcommunityradio campaign's National Day Of Action today, the Labor and Greens parties have today announced they will restore funding cut from the recent Federal Budget if elected.

The ALP made the announcement yesterday at Sydney's FBi radio studios. 

"Today, we’re announcing that if Labor is elected on 2 July, we’ll reverse the cuts that Malcolm Turnbull has made to digital community radio services," Shadow Minister for Communications Jason Clare said

"We understand how important community radio is, you’ve got about 5 million people right across the country listening to more than 440 community radio services every week."

Member for Grandler, Anthony Albanese, described the Turnbull government's cuts as a "dumb act".

"This station survives on the sniff of an oily rag, survives on the basis of the people that give up their time for nothing," Albanese said of FBi.

"The least you can expect is the Government to do its bit."

Meanwhile Greens MP Adam Brandt said the party would continue to support community radio as it has for many years.

"It is in the public interest that community radio continues to flourish, however our community radio stations face financial strife at the hands of Malcolm Turnbull and his Liberal government’s cuts," Brandt said.

"Under the Greens’ plan, this funding will continue, ensuring the sector’s digital stream and making sure we keep community digital radio on air well into the future."

Not only have radio stations across the country joined the campaign to restore funding, which will see a cut of $1.4 million next month, but musicians have also taken to social media to promote #keepcommunityradio.

The petition to restore funding has now garnered nearly 40,000 signatures, with 7000 of those coming today. Click here for more details.