Sector Roundtable meet April 2021

The Community Broadcasting Sector Roundtable held a productive session on Tuesday, 20 April via Zoom.

The Roundtable discussed a range of important matters:

• The sector, principally through the CBAA, continues to have productive conversations with Government around funding for the future, regulatory reform to simplify and streamline licensing and other processes, and the importance of having community radio included in new digital radio rollouts.

• The Roundtable expressed its continuing support for the Community TV sector, and the need for an extension of the deadline for cut-off of free-to-air broadcasting beyond June 30 this year.

• The CMTO, as an invited guest to this session, gave an update on its activities and also opportunities in increased availability of apprenticeship funding for stations.

• A discussion was had on how community broadcasting is recovering from COVID, noting that it remains difficult for many stations, particularly those in the arts and music sectors. Nonetheless the COVID crisis funding from the CBF has played an important role in helping stations.

The Roundtable consists of representatives from:

• The Australian Community Television Alliance (ACTA)
• Christian Media & Arts Australia (CMAA)
• The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)
• First Nations Media Australia (previously IRCA)
• The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC)
• RPH Australia (RPHA), and
• The Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF)

The roundtable will meet again in August 2021.