James Bidgood (Dawson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I appreciate the sentiments of the previous member and certainly enjoyed the passion with which he expounded. I too have a passion for community radio, having served on Mackay’s 4CRM community radio for 10 years. The volunteers that man these stations give kids a go at being in the media. I have seen people go from school to radio and then go on to radio school and professional radio and really develop. It has really been something special to see the true benefit of a community organisation producing professional broadcasters. I am proud to have seen that in my time at 4CRM community radio in Mackay. Mackay’s 4CRM happens to broadcast on FM 107.5. Just for the amusement of members, you may be interested to know that my speciality was in punk rock from 1976 to 1980, with a particular passion for the Sex Pistols, the Stranglers, the Damned, the Clash and other ‘quiet symphonies’ such as those.

There is a spirit of learning, freedom and experimentation in community radio. It brings opportunity—opportunity that normally would pass by ordinary, everyday people. It gives people an opportunity to flex their muscles or spread their wings, whichever illustration you wish to use. Radio is a great form of communication, and I truly am passionate about it.

I am glad to see that the government is taking the lead here. I wish that the previous speaker was still here because I would like to put on record that the Labor Party does have a long and proud history of leadership in radio broadcasting in this country. I put on the record that Paul Keating’s government was responsible for getting the broadcasting of triple j to the regions—regions such as Mackay, the Whitsundays, Bowen and Ayr—in the 1990s. It was under his leadership that that happened. So the people of Dawson do appreciate the history of the Labor Party in promoting community radio and state run radio such as the ABC. That in itself has been a great experience.

Some of you from the big metropolitan capital cities may be surprised to know that even a thriving city such as Mackay and regions such as the Whitsundays, Bowen and Ayr only received ABC NewsRadio in the last year. That is quite something. But I tell you what: that has empowered people to listen to democracy at work in the House of Representatives. It has been very good that people can actually hear live what is happening in the House of Representatives, particularly at question time. I have had a lot of feedback on that just recently, particularly from elderly people who are house bound.

I had one call today. A man said, ‘Wow! It was so good to hear the Prime Minister deliver that $10.4 billion economic security package.’ He was particularly pleased to hear that he will receive $1,400 on 8 December. He said he just could not believe his ears when he heard it. He said he had tears in his eyes. That is direct democracy in action. A word spoken here can be heard in the regional and rural communities, particularly in Mackay and the seat of Dawson. Really, when you think about it, we should have had that radio available years ago. But I will not harp on about who was in power for the last 12 years. That might look a little bit out of order. I will not go on about that. Radio and new technology, particularly digital technology over the internet, have been great. People in London, Paris, New York and Amsterdam can hear democracy at work in Australia if they have the internet. New technologies bring new opportunities and facilitate new forms of democracy and representation. I find this exceedingly exciting.

In the seat of Dawson there are many good radio services, particularly the ABC. They do a fantastic public radio service with the news every morning. It is localised and it is fantastic. They do a great job. The commercial radio stations are equally as good. Sea FM do a fantastic music show with very short, sharp news clips and grabs of what is happening nationally and internationally as well as locally. I particularly like going to meet Ange and Jay on the breakfast show. We often have a good time live on air. Then there is Hot FM. They do a great job too. Again, they appeal to a different age group. Meech and Teegs are on there. Meech has plenty of personality. There is no doubt about it. He keeps everybody bright and breezy early in the morning. Also, as I have said, we have community radio. We also have easy listening radio in Mackay on the AM band, and they do a great job as well. Radio is giving people access to knowledge, information and the democratic process. I think that is exciting. The recommendations I see before me on joint ventures and enabling better ways of doing business are very good indeed. I commend the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2008 to the House.

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