Australian community radio stations have been spared the vicious budget cuts that affected youth, pensioners and unemployed in the Australian Government’s federal budget overnight.
While avoiding the “budget bullet” a statement from Melbourne community station 3RRR-FM does acknowledge the Federal Budget has impacted on many already disadvantaged people in the community.
“Unfortunately today we also need to acknowledge other sectors who have not
fared as well in the federal budget including cuts to services that assist some
of the most disadvantaged in our community,” the statement reads.
In announcing that funding to community radio has been spared this statement was released by 3RRRFM.
“We are relieved to announce that $17.7M funding for community broadcasting
was confirmed in last night’s Federal Budget. In the lead up to the budget
announcement, the Commission of Audit recommended that all funding for
community radio and TV be scrapped. As a result, 25,000 passionate
community radio listeners responded by lobbying the Treasurer to stand up
for independent media and the diversity that the community broadcast sector
represents.“Thank you to everyone who supported the Commit to Community Radio
campaign.“Many community broadcasters rely on this funding for their day-to-day
operations and therefore their survival. These stations provide vital services to many different regional and metropolitan communities, especially Indigenous
and ethnic communities, seniors, youth, the print and vision impaired and
Australian and non-commercial music and arts communities. These
communities aren’t adequately serviced by commercial or government
broadcasters and this funding is paramount to keeping media diversity alive
across Australia”.
