Major stakeholders share their disappointment and dig in for a fight. What do you think? Comment below (you do not have to be a paid subscriber to comment).

If you could sum up the Budget’s effect on the Australian landscape in ten words, you might say the ABC and SBS got a boost; community radio got nothing.

That definitely seems to be the sentiment flowing from the sector this morning, after their pleas for an additional $1.4 million per annum to maintain community digital radio services (reflecting the funding levels of the last few years) were ignored.

CBAA President, Adrian Basso, speaking for the Commit To Community Radio campaign which attracted over 42,000 supporters, came out to say that the fight is not over.

Today is a sad day for community radio, but we’re not giving up. Last night the Federal Government failed to deliver the funding needed to keep all of our community digital radio services running.

But we won’t give up the fight for a digital future for community radio – and I hope you won’t either. Last night’s budget was a set-back, but we won’t let it be a death sentence. Community radio is too important.

Decisions on the future of digital community radio services will be made over the coming weeks and the CBAA is seeking urgent talks with Minister Stephen Conroy to discuss the implications of the budget and options for community digital radio.

Thank you for your support of the Commit to Community Radio campaign – it’s been overwhelming. Over 42,000 people signed up to the campaign and thousands of emails have been sent directly to Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, the Treasurer, the Minister for Finance and other MPs.

It shows just how much passion there is for community radio.

Community radio is the soul of Australian broadcasting. It provides vital services to communities right across the country. But the Federal Government hasn’t been able to see that. The Federal Government says it is committed to ensuring a digital future for community broadcasting, yet this budget does not properly deliver on that commitment.

It was a tight budget, yes. But all that was required to keep our community digital radio services up and running was $1.4 million per annum.

This is not the end. Together we will continue to fight for a digital future for our community radio services.

Thanks again for your continued support – and stay tuned.

Adrian Basso

The CBAA, representing all of the affected stations, released a statement this morning which warned that digital services may need to be turned off.

Community digital radio services may be forced to shut down following the Federal Government’s failure to provide the mere $1.4 million in funding needed for their survival in last night’s budget.

The Federal Government’s failure to address the funding shortfall means that tough decisions will now have to be made about the future of community digital radio services.

President of the CBAA, Adrian Basso, said the government has jeopardised the future of community digital radio.

“This is a disappointing outcome for all the communities who rely on community radio to provide the information, opinion and music commercial stations and the national broadcasters can’t or don’t,” Mr Basso said.

“We’ll now be consulting with all digital community radio services on their future. A 40 per cent annual operational shortfall in funding is obviously very significant and tough decisions will have to be made that could leave some communities without their community digital radio services.

“The Australian public wants community radio to have a future. The government says it is committed as well, yet this budget does not properly deliver on that commitment,” Mr Basso said. “Addressing the mere $1.4million shortfall is all that is required to keep community digital radio services up and running.

“For a government that says it’s committed to media diversity, it’s done a pretty good job of stifling it.

“A quarter of Australian radio listeners turn to community radio stations every week for services that include specialist music, Indigenous media, multicultural and ethnic language programs, religious, educational and youth services, print disability reading services, and community access programs. The digital community radio services that provide this essential content are now facing a very uncertain future.

“Community radio stations are already investing significant time and money in developing new programming and services for their digital services. As not-for-profit organisations they provide valuable free-to-air digital broadcast services for the public. Tonight’s budget flies in the face of the commitment made to provide stations with affordable access to the digital platform.

Melbourne’s youth community radio station, SYN, switched off their analogue and digital services last Tuesday to demonstrate a future without community radio. The station released this statement in response to the Budget shortfall.

Thousands of young people across the country are worse off after the Federal Government failed to address a shortfall of funding for community digital radio services in last night’s budget. 

Melbourne youth-run community media organisation SYN Media is just one of the 37 community stations who risk losing digital services as a result of the $1.4 million gap.

SYN exists to provide young people with broadcast and training opportunities, and with its analogue services at capacity was counting on digital radio to service the needs of young people not just in Melbourne but right around Australia.

“What we know about young people is that they want to be connected. Young people, particularly in regional and rural areas, are more isolated than their metropolitan counterparts and our plan was to use digital radio to break down that barrier,” says SYN General Manager Tahlia Azaria.

“For us, community media is vital for more than just the niche stories and perspectives it provides. It is a platform for expression, it builds confidence, creativity and communication skills, team work and leadership skills. It really equips all of our participants with the tools they need to be constructive members of society, which we’ve seen eventuate time and time again as our broadcasters and producers move through the organisation into successful careers.”

While SYN prides itself on utilising online media such as podcasts, Azaria says cutting the community broadcast sector off traditional mediums and expecting them to use online media in isolation is unrealistic.

“Young people have everything they need to be bedroom producers, but it’s just not as rewarding or credible as traditional broadcasting is. If podcasts were the answer we would be seeing a downturn in membership, but the fact is that every year it increases. Our information sessions are full every month, with some young people travelling from as far as Bendigo and Ballarat to attend, and our training is booked out three months in advance,” says Azaria.

“Young people want to be on radio. They want to be part of a community. That’s all there is to it. But unfortunately yesterday’s budget does not cater to that need.”

For more information on the impact of the budget on community digital radio services visit committocommunityradio.org.au.

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