Sector Leadership Update: October 2019

The CBAA continues to advocate for the needs of its members and the wider community broadcasting sector.

Summary of Update

• The CBAA's Future Delivery of Radio Services submission is now available to read;
• CBAA visits Parliament House;
• Initial rounds of consultation have been undertaken to inform a draft Forward Agenda for Sector Leadership; and
• The CBAA has participated in a number of other inquiries.

The Future Delivery of Radio Services consultation

In August, the CBAA made a submission to the ACMA's Future Delivery of Radio Services consultation, after consulting with our members, Sector Representative Organisations and stakeholders. Read more about it and the full submission on our website.

We’re excited to have ACMA's James Cameron attend the 2019 CBAA Conference in Melbourne to speak about radio's future – get your ticket if you haven’t already.

CBAA visits Canberra

In September, CBAA’s CEO Jon Bisset and Project Coordinator (Government Relations) Holly Friedlander Liddicoat, visited Parliament House to meet with politicians to further strengthen support for the community broadcasting sector.

Discussions regarding the need to improve sector funding, regulation and legislation to continue making community broadcasting vibrant and sustainable were had with the offices of Senator Steele-John, Senator Lambie, Senator Van, Senator Griff, Michelle Rowland MP, Rebekha Sharkie MP, Senator Patrick, Tim Watts MP, Minister Coulton, Andrew Wilkie MP, Josh Wilson MP and Senator Hanson-Young. It was great to strengthen relationships and build new ones with incoming Members and Senators. 

In August and October, we also met with the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts and his team, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP.

CBAA's Forward Agenda for Sector Leadership 

Thank you to our members and sector organisations who completed our survey sent out in June/July, which asked some broad questions to help input into the Codes review, the Future Delivery of Radio Services consultation and initial planning for CBAA's Forward Agenda for Sector Leadership.

Feedback continued to highlight a number of key issues including the need for increased sector funding, flexibility in sponsorship, how ACMA define's 'not-for-profit' and licensing red-tape, among others. The CBAA is in the process of considering this feedback and developing a draft Forward Agenda for further consultation.

What else has happened recently?

• In August, the CBAA made a submission to the ACMA regarding the deeming of Edge Radio to be included in the roll-out of DAB+ digital radio in Hobart. As a youth community broadcaster, the inclusion of Edge Radio on DAB+ will expand the options and improve services in the interest of the full Hobart community.
• In September, the CBAA made a submission to IPART's Draft Report on NSW rental arrangements of communication towers on Crown Lands. It outlined key concerns about changes and costs which would adversely affect stations.
• In September, the CBAA made a submission to Treasury regarding the Final Report of ACCC's Digital Platforms Inquiry. We highlighted the importance of stable and adequate sector funding to ensure media diversity; targeted funding to support more regional journalism; and the need to enshrine the policy objectives of media diversity, service mix and free-to-receive in any media regulatory framework harmonisation. The submission is not yet public.
• As a member of the 'Australia's Right to Know Coalition' with other major media organisations, we've co-signed a number of submissions including to the two press freedom inquiries - both available on our Submissions page.

A proposed draft Codes are currently with the ACMA for review – after any changes to our proposed consultation draft and consultation framework, we’ll send out the Codes for sector-wide and public consultation.

Upcoming

The CBAA will be making a submission to the Select Committee on Regional Australia's inquiry into Regional Australia, due 8 November. Our submission will highlight the important impact of community radio stations on regional communities, and how they help contribute to local and national identity. If you would like to contribute your thoughts, please email or call Holly Friedlander Liddicoat on [email protected] or 02 9310 2999 by COB 25 October.