Sector Leadership Update: March 2020

Community radio in times of emeregencies

Australia’s recent bushfires, while catastrophic for many individuals and communities, have again demonstrated the vital role community broadcasting plays in creating community cohesion and connection. To highlight this, the CBAA is:

• Working with Government to demonstrate the vital work community radio is doing during the current crisis and in its aftermath, and ensure stations have the resources they need to thrive in times of emergencies.
• Working with members of the national council for the delivery of fire and emergency services warnings, the AFAC Warnings Group, to ensure stations are best connected to the emergency information they need.
• Highlighting the work of stations online, in the media and with partners.

Read just a selection of station stories, or drop us a line to share your story: [email protected]

CBAA championing community radio's vital role in Canberra 

The CBAA recently visited Parliament House in Canberra to discuss how community radio supports communities in times of emergencies and disasters. The sector continues to receive very strong support across party lines.

During this summer’s recent bushfire crisis, many Ministers, Senators and MPs experienced firsthand community radio’s vital role in communicating emergency information, connecting individuals and building resilience. Because of this, they understand intimately the importance of local voices delivering local information via terrestrial broadcast in times of need. We're working to translate this understanding into increased financial support for the sector.

In the last weeks, we've seen supportive comments in the House from Dr Mike Kelly (Member for Eden-Monaro), Dr Katie Allen (Member for Higgins), Mr Josh Burns (Member for Macnamara), Mrs Fiona Phillips (Member for Gilmore), and Shadow Minister Michelle Rowland (Member for Greenway). Find out more.

What else has happened recently?

• You can now read the CBAA's submission to Treasury regarding the Final Report of ACCC's Digital Platforms Inquiry. We're working with Government to ensure stable and adequate sector funding; targeted funding to support more regional journalism; and the need to enshrine the policy objectives of media diversity, service mix and free-to-receive in any media regulatory framework harmonisation.
• In November 2019, the CBAA made a submission to the Regional Australia Inquiry, outlining the contribution of community radio to regional Australia; the operating challenges faced by community radio in regional Australia, particularly in drought-affected regions; and what better support might enable regional broadcasters to best serve their communities.

What's on the horizon?

The CBAA will be making a submission to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee's inquiry, "Lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20". Specifically, we'll be writing about the role of community radio in assisting communities to recover from the bushfires. If you are helping your community members, through fundraising, sharing mental health information on air or in other ways, please let us know at [email protected] by 30 March.