COMMUNITY TELEVISION FUNDING

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. A. Bressington:

That this council urges—

1. The Premier to call upon the federal government, in particular the Prime Minister and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, to provide appropriate and swift funding to enable community television to simulcast in both analogue and digital frequencies;

2. That the Premier, at the next meeting of the Council of Australian Governments, insists that his interstate counterparts do the same; and

3. That the resolution be forwarded to the Premier, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy for their urgent consideration.

(Continued from 17 June 2009. Page 2684.)

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (17:49): Responsibility for digital switchover is with the federal government. The costs involved in converting to digital transmission for existing analogue broadcasters is significant, particularly for community-based broadcasters. Assistance in the form of funding from the government would be welcome. The state government recognises the importance to the community of community broadcasting and the important and vital role volunteers play in supporting community station operations.

It is appropriate that this council urges that representation be made by the Minister for Science and Information Economy to the federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy at a future meeting of the Online and Communications Council to explore options enabling simulcast in both analogue and digital frequencies for community television. I intend to move an amendment to that effect, and we support the motion with that amendment. I move:

Leave out all words after 'That this council urges' and insert the following:

representation be made by the Minister for Science and Information Economy to the Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy at a future meeting of the Online and Communications Council to explore options enabling simulcast in both analogue and digital frequencies for community television.

The Hon. M. PARNELL (17:50): I wish to speak briefly to this motion. I note that, if this council were to pass the motion, we would be following in the shoes of the Senate, which on 24 June, I think, passed a very similar motion—it was a Greens' motion—calling on the government to support community television's transition to digital broadcasting. Community broadcasting is an important aspect of life, especially in rural, regional and remote Australia.

It contributes to media training, and it broadcasts in over 30 ethnic languages. It brings information and entertainment to local communities and promotes indigenous cultures. Certainly, community radio is more common than community television but, with both forms of broadcasting moving to digital transmission, I think the arguments are the same.

Indigenous communities, in particular, have benefited from having their own broadcasting networks. There have been opportunities for them to broadcast in their own language and to educate the public about their culture, dance and music. Currently, there are some 460 independent community owned and operated radio and television stations and remote indigenous services. A report by the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia in October 2008 showed that 9.5 million Australians listen to community radio every month, and that is some 57 per cent of the population.

I mentioned that community radio and television can be a great training ground. Anyone who is a football fan would follow The Coodabeen Champions on ABC Radio and perhaps know that they had their start on RMIT radio some 20 or 30 years ago in Melbourne. The content of their programs has not changed in all that time, but they got their training in the community sector. Because community radio and television stations currently do not have the capacity to access the digital spectrum, they all face a loss of audience during the transition and eventual phase-out of analog services.

The Greens believe that community broadcasting should not be left behind in the digital transition. It has played an important role in radio and television history and brought diversity and localism to its audiences. We would like to continue to see this industry grow and benefit local communities, and so we are pleased to be supporting the Hon. Ann Bressington's motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins.