Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Sydney for a fine defence and advocacy for local community radio, newspapers and television, and that's what I want to do as well—to focus on community broadcasting, which honourable members should know is Australia's largest independent media sector and a key pillar in the Australian media landscape. There are over 450 community radio services across Australia, 76 per cent of which are in regional and remote communities. In my community, in Darwin and Palmerston, community radio supports jobs. Around the country, it supports maybe as many as 700 full-time jobs, and some very good people in my electorate are employed in community radio. As happens everywhere else in Australia, loads of Territorians tune in every day to community radio. When I think about community radio in my electorate, I know how many people enjoy tuning in to 104.1 Territory FM. They're a great radio station, and I take my hat off to them. They provide a great news service and great music, and they're very much appreciated in our community. Along with the commercial media, community radio services have faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted significantly on their resources, staffing, and volunteers.

Debate interrupted.

See this speech in context