The CBAA and the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) are encouraging their members to email the Treasurer Joe Hockey, before the federal budget is brought down, urging him to maintain funding for the community radio sector.

So far, more than 5,000 emails have been sent to Mr Hockey.

Fearing deep budget cuts, the Commit to Community Radio Campaign which, according to it’s website, has already amassed over 45,000 supporters.

The community sector’s concern is based on the National Commission of Audit recommendation released last week to the Federal Government that the Community Broadcasting Program – that’s ALL CBF grants – be abolished.

In an email to its members and stakeholders the CBF wrote:

If the Government adopts that recommendation in Tuesday’s Federal budget community stations right across the country will be put at real risk.

Community broadcasting has enjoyed bipartisan political support for the past 40 years. Continued Federal Government funding support is crucial to the sector’s ongoing operation and development.

Please visit the campaign website at www.committocommunityradio.org.au and send an email to Minister Hockey. The more pre-budget emails the Treasurer receives from community broadcasting supporters calling on him to ensure our funding is continued, the greater the chance that the cuts won’t be included in next week’s Federal Budget or considered in any future government response to the COA report.

Please also share and publicise the campaign through your personal and professional networks as soon as possible and check that your station has engaged with the campaign. We have less than five days to ensure cuts to community broadcasting don’t end up in the Budget.
Take action:

• 1. Visit www.committocommunityradio.org.au and send an email through to Minister Hockey. Your email will be automatically copied to the Communications and Finance Ministers and you’ll be kept in the loop of the progress of the campaign.
2. Click here to ‘like’ the Commit to Community Radio campaign on facebook.
3. Urgently share the campaign with your listeners, viewers, supporters, subscribers, members, broadcasters, Facebook friends and family. The Commit to Community Radio website includes Community Service Announcements you can play on your station.

Over 5,000 emails have been sent to the Treasurer since the campaign was launched yesterday! Have you sent yours yet? Visit www.committocommunityradio.org.au and take action to protect community broadcasting!