Laurie Ferguson moved a private members motion in support of Ethnic Broadcasters this week in the House of Representatives and called for more money for the Australian Ethnic Radio Training Project (AERTP).

The Hansard transcript says:

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS – Mr L. D. T. FERGUSON to move:

That this House:

(1) pays tribute to the thousands of dedicated people
across Australia who are involved every week in
ethnic community broadcasting;

(2) recognises that the Australian Ethnic Radio
Training Project (AERTP), auspiced by the National
Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters
Council, performs a vital role in providing nationally
available, quality, accredited, value-for-money
competency-based training for aspiring
ethnic community broadcasters;

(3) acknowledges there is an ongoing demand for
such training from new broadcasters, new programs,
new language groups and from existing
groups; and

(4) calls on the Government to provide further financial
support to AERTP to ensure that it continues
to operate beyond the 2002-2003 financial year.