Jackie Kelly (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, I present the committee’s report entitled Tuning in to community broadcasting, together with the minutes of proceedings and evidence received by the committee.

Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper.

by leave—On behalf of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, I am pleased to present this report on community broadcasting in Australia. This is the second and final report for the committee’s inquiry into community broadcasting.

Community broadcasting adds diversity to the media landscape in Australia. The committee recognises the value that the community broadcasting sector contributes to Australian society. The committee was thoroughly impressed by the quality of programming produced by broadcasters and the dedication and commitment shown by the sector’s 20,000-plus volunteers. However, there are aspects of the community broadcasting sector that could be improved—in particular, the management and governance of stations. There were many complaints about the allocation of licences and the operation of some stations at the exclusion of others. Getting the governance right is a key step in ensuring that we maintain a robust and vibrant network of financially sound not-for-profit stations with a committed community audience rather than occupational therapy for a limited number of community members who enjoy broadcasting.

Community broadcasters transmit on valuable spectrum that could be otherwise hired out to commercial users. The public policy reasons for reserving spectrum for community broadcasting have more to do with the communities the broadcasters serve than anything done in the stations themselves. The success of community broadcasters can be measured by station ratings, financial liquidity and the ability to plan for the replacement of equipment needed to broadcast in the modern environment without waiting on uncertain government funding. Most government funding to the general broadcasting sector is ad hoc funding for equipment replacement. Stations are grateful to receive funding once or twice every three years and generally do not count on the government for station operating costs.

The focus of this inquiry has been to support the sector’s independence, promote diversity and ensure the success of community broadcasters, particularly as they face some significant hurdles in the future. The committee has made a number of recommendations addressing the need for increased government funding to community broadcasters—both ongoing funding and short-term funding for technical upgrades. However, these increases must be accompanied by a greater level of business acumen, improved management and financial accountability by community broadcasters.

The report recommends an increase of $10 million in core funding, which will primarily fund station manager positions. Although the Australian government’s contribution to the sector has been significant, the committee feels that a substantial boost in core funding, with annual indexed increases, will improve management by continuity of CEOs who do not have as a first priority the fundraising for their own salaries, allowing them to instead focus on station management, greater diversity and community inclusion rather than exclusion. The funding for paid station managers will result in better management practices and should be available to stations on a competitive grant process, which would result in some stations having a manager for two days a week, or three days a week in more remote or smaller areas, and others having two or three station managers.

The report also recommends an increase in targeted funding, primarily to assist in the replacement of station equipment and infrastructure. The committee believes that stations should not rely on funding in the long term for the replacement of equipment. Once current equipment is brought up to speed for the digital age, this funding should cease. The committee’s governance recommendations should see an increased level of effective station management, including better financial and forward planning, reducing the reliance on government for equipment replacement. A significant boost in funding for business management training will also make a great contribution to effective governance in the sector. The report makes several other key recommendations on regulation, sponsorship, transmission fees and copyright issues.

While community radio is a vibrant sector, community television currently faces a crisis with no security of access to digital spectrum or option for simulcast. These issues were addressed in the first report of this inquiry which was released in February 2007. The committee, along with the community television broadcasters and viewers, anxiously awaits the minister’s response to that report. The committee considers it will be the death knell for community television if it does not gain access to digital spectrum before the end of 2007. Again, the committee strongly urges the Australian government to implement the recommendations of the first report for this inquiry.

I thank the members of the committee for their dedication to the inquiry. The members of the committee showed unified support for the report. I also thank the committee secretariat, particularly Anthony Overs and Anna Dacre, for their counsel, assistance and patience throughout the inquiry process. In conclusion, I would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who provided evidence to this inquiry through submissions or by appearing before the committee. I commend this report to the House.

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