Community Broadcasting Program identified for abolition within National Commission of Audit Report recommendations

The Community Broadcasting Program has been identified within the National Commission of Audit Report published on 1 May 2014 as one of the Commonwealth grant programs recommended to be abolished.

In plain language, the audit report appears to recommend that all funding from the Commonwealth Government Department of Communications to community broadcasting be cut. That includes every grant provided by the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF) to stations, funding to Ethnic, Religious, and Radio for the Print Handicapped services, all national projects including the National Training Project, Community Media Training Organisation, Amrap, CBOnline, the Digital Radio Project, and the Community Radio Network.

The rationale used in the audit report for abolishment of the funding is "the Commonwealth Government already provides over $1 billion per annum to the operation of the public broadcasters [ABC and SBS]. There is a limited rationale for the Commonweatlh to also subsidise community radio services. Continued Government funding of this area does not meet the report's principles of good governance."

It is important to note that it is a recommendation in the audit report, not a confirmed cut. We do not as yet know whether the Coalition intends to adopt the Commission’s recommendation within the 2014/15 Federal Budget, or in future budgets.

The CBAA is liaising directly with the Department of Communications and the Communication Minister's office for clarification. We will get back to you within the next 24 hours with more information. If necessary the CBAA is prepared to launch a national campaign to fight any moves towards abolishing the Community Broadcasting Program. Your assistance and expertise with this will be critical.

National Commission of Audit report.