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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-12-09 Daily Xml
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Motions

Radio Adelaide

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:54): I move:

That this council—

1. Expresses its support for Radio Adelaide, and notes that Adelaide will be markedly worse off if it were to be lost;

2. Notes that The University of Adelaide showed tremendous vision in founding and supporting Radio Adelaide, the first community radio station in Australia, and that it has been a key part of South Australia's public life for 43 years;

3. Notes a very large number of South Australia and Australia's journalists, media and creative professionals, and musicians, have received training and experience from Radio Adelaide, and that this station is critical in supporting these industries;

4. Notes that Radio Adelaide has provided a diverse range of communities with unique access to the airwaves, including the music industry, the arts, ethnic and multicultural communities, educational bodies, and many others;

5. Notes that Radio Adelaide has provided fantastic opportunities for South Australian youth to gain working media experience and contribute to a vibrant creative arts environment in Adelaide;

6. Notes that Radio Adelaide reduces the 'brain drain' of young people leaving Adelaide to seek opportunities elsewhere; and

7. Notes that Radio Adelaide focuses on South Australian issues, stories and music in an environment where this is particularly important given the shrinking Adelaide media sector.

I move this motion on behalf of the Greens in state parliament today to recognise the outstanding contribution made to South Australia's cultural life by the community broadcaster Radio Adelaide, and to highlight the incredible campaign of support that has emerged following the announcement that its home at 228 North Terrace has been sold to facilitate the building of a new medical school facility by the University of Adelaide.

The university has opened a brief consultation period following a review of Radio Adelaide which has outlined five options for its future. Radio Adelaide believes that three of these options would see the station close, either immediately or soon after. Radio Adelaide urges the university to commit to a three to five year staged transition, consistent with their independent review option 2. The campaign is encouraging supporters to write a submission before the closing date of 11 December, that is this Friday.

Radio Adelaide is Australia's first and longest-running community radio station. It was founded by the University of Adelaide 43 years ago, in 1972, and aims to inform, engage and entertain audiences through its around 70 programs which are presented by the community for the community. The name 'Radio Adelaide' barely captures the innovation at the station; its reach is so much broader than our capital, and it was one of the first radio stations in Australia to have a website, some 21 years ago, back in 1994.

It is the first community radio station in Australia to broadcast live on the internet. In fact, when I listen to it digitally, I always cringe at the fact that it comes up with the tagline, 'For older listeners, young at heart'. I think they need to change that tagline, because it does not make me feel very good, but I am sure that they were well meaning when they crafted that one.

It is powered by some 400 volunteers, some of whom, I am sure, are both young at heart and young in age, and all of whom bring a passion and enthusiasm for their community. It is an innovative community station operating at the best.

The Greens believe in community media and community broadcasters, and we work to support them, because they are an absolutely vital part of our media landscape and provide services that include, in this case, specialist music, Indigenous media, multicultural and non-English programs, and community access. Their contribution is enormous and immensely important to civil society. Radio Adelaide has contributed to this civil society in a number of ways. For the benefit of the members in this council, I will highlight some of Radio Adelaide's achievements, but I do know that other members are also eager to make a contribution today as well.

First and foremost, Radio Adelaide provides a platform to up-and-coming media professionals as an avenue to access hands-on media training. All too often we hear of the younger people of our state heading to Sydney, Melbourne, or even overseas, to pursue creative careers. We know that South Australia needs to build on our new industries and emerging industries and provide jobs. South Australia needs organisations that provide people with a chance to stay in South Australia, to learn media production skills here, to build these creative industries and to generate future jobs. Radio Adelaide does and is providing these opportunities.

The station is a registered training provider and it offers accredited cert. III training in media. I have been advised that independent media organisations, or any commercial media for that matter, envy the opportunities that Radio Adelaide has been able to create. Students who study media and journalism at the University of Adelaide say that the practical training offered through Radio Adelaide is a major attraction for them to study that course. The station provides training for aspiring journalists, training for other community radio stations and training for Indigenous media organisations.

I think this link between studying a media course and getting hands-on experience is so vital for our students. They should be able to receive training on how to conduct interviews, edit interviews, know where to look for a story and how to present a story, write up the interview cue sheets and then produce a high level radio segment. Radio Adelaide provides those students with the skills they will need for their future careers.

Radio Adelaide supports our local musicians and artists. Members would be aware that this week's The Advertiser featured the ARIA nominated rock band The Beards giving their support to Radio Adelaide. Like so many other local South Australian and Australian musicians, they benefitted from Radio Adelaide's focus on local music and live music. Every week the station has a feature album, and this year 85 per cent of those albums have been by Australian artists. This highlights Radio Adelaide's innovative vision and its support for Australian musicians and artists.

As many of you know, I do have a passion for the arts sector and I am so proud to know of the work that Radio Adelaide continues to do in support of the arts. It is an area that needs further investment from governments around the country, which have failed to properly see and invest in its importance. Radio Adelaide is a long-term supporter of artists and gives exposure to younger artists, not just the big names or people who are already successful. I would like to refer members to a quote from the Adelaide Festival artistic director, David Sefton, who says:

We've always had a fantastic relationship between the festival and the station and I can't imagine doing the festival without Radio Adelaide as a partner. The idea of an Adelaide without Radio Adelaide is completely unthinkable.

The South Australian Writers Centre says:

Radio Adelaide has for many years been the key media supporter for the arts in South Australia and has provided comprehensive arts coverage, covering stories other media outlets ignore, and bringing to light the breadth of arts activity here in the state and beyond—from blockbuster authors to tiny but vital community arts projects.

Radio Adelaide covers untold stories, giving a voice to marginalised members of the community. You will also hear ordinary people talking on the radio, telling their stories and sharing their experiences and passions. This is deeply valued by many across South Australia. For example, the Victim Support Service says:

Radio Adelaide has played a vital community role in helping the Victim Support Service to connect with victims and let them know how we can help, particularly at a time when a traumatic experience may have left them vulnerable, confused and devoid of confidence. In recent times the Station has been especially helpful in assisting us to connect with victims of family and domestic abuse and to raise awareness of this issue in the community.

The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) says:

SACOSS was dismayed to learn that Radio Adelaide's future is in jeopardy. No doubt South Australians concerned about poverty, inequity or injustice and who have connected to our broadcasts through Radio Adelaide will be equally concerned.

Despite these great achievements, Radio Adelaide now finds itself about to be without a home. It is a part of the University of Adelaide and I know just how proud the staff, volunteers and listeners are of the university's vision some 43 years ago in establishing the station. The station's supporters seek a continuation of that vision for decades to come. The #SaveRadAd campaign has garnered broad support and has been seen by more than 5,035 people, who have signed a petition calling on the University of Adelaide to keep the station on the air. I would like to take a little more of the chamber's time to read out some of the testimonials from dedicated volunteers. The first story states:

I would not be where I am today without Radio Adelaide. The station not only gave me a start in radio but as a young person it gave me a start in life, it gave me confidence as a young woman, opportunities to lead, an outlet for my voice to be heard and exposure to arts, culture, community and people from all cultures/communities. I have gone on to be an international correspondent but have never forgotten Radio Adelaide. I now work with the UN in Tanzania where we are building community radio as a key pillar of democracy and have used Radio Adelaide training materials.

The second story reads:

Back in 1997-98, I used Radio Adelaide to train 30 Aboriginal people from the Pitjantjatjara lands for a radio network called Radio 5NPY Anangu Winkiku Satellite Network (translation: The People's Radio). This station is still operating today and originally spanned 30 communities in an area the size of Germany. Radio Adelaide won an award for this training to add to the dozens of other awards it has won over the last 30 years. More recently, Radio Adelaide has provided my daughter Amber (and many others) with the opportunity to develop skills in radio production to a very high level. It has developed so many good programs and trained hundreds of students, many of whom have gone onto the ABC, community radio and commercial networks.

The third story reads:

I joined Radio Adelaide when I was still a media and communications student at the University of Adelaide, 10 years ago—back in 2005. The station shaped who I am and the contact I have had with over 400 volunteers from all walks of life—as well as the listeners helped me to become a better member of society and hopefully a more conscious and conscientious citizen. Now working at the University of Melbourne, and having also completed a Journalism degree here—I can wholeheartedly say that the University of Adelaide will do itself and the South Australian community a great disservice if it chooses to close Radio Adelaide. It is an irreplaceable platform for community engagement and citizen journalism, a National training ground for future journalists and, above all, a community that gives Adelaide and South Australia a unique voice.

The fourth story reads:

I am amazed to see how much more Legacy's work is acknowledged in the military, government and general communities because of the Legacy Hour (a program on Radio Adelaide). I am constantly told how members of the Legacy Family are now tuning in to listen to Radio Adelaide, or listening to the various podcasts. Not just the elderly widows sitting at home in rather isolated situations, but their children and grandchildren too.

There is always a solution. Let's look for a good solution, but one that doesn't involve shutting down Radio Adelaide or reducing it to an unworkable condition. It is a powerful tool for the University and for South Australia. Let's keep it strong!

The final story that has been provided to my office for reading today and sharing with members is:

I'm signing the petition because Radio Adelaide has been part of my life since I volunteered there in the 1980s. I continue to listen to it. The latest series, Riding the Long Wave, was a great example of community radio with the interviews with such a range of people united by a creative take on those of us who are ageing. I also love tuning in and hearing such a range of languages. Where will all these communities groups go if the station ends?

I would like to briefly reflect, as is my wont, on some of my favourite Radio Adelaide programs and give a special shout out to The Aqueerium, now lost but certainly much loved, which aired every Saturday morning for 10 years. Listeners were invited 'to take their ears for a swim in the clear, queer waters of The Aqueerium'. Between 2001 and 2011, the team interviewed many gay, lesbian and bisexual activists in Adelaide and across Australia, and many from overseas as well.

I commend them for their longstanding work and note that it has been ably taken up more recently by one of my other favourite programs, Pride & Prejudice, much later at night. Podcasts are a great invention because they mean that not all of us have to stay up to the wee hours to hear alternative voices, and Pride & Prejudice is the only LGBTIQ radio show in Adelaide currently—queer communities and culture presented by a team from Adelaide's three universities, dissecting the political and cultural boundaries of queer people.

The volunteers' highlights of running this program have been having members of parliament interviewed on their show about the current gender and sexuality laws, and the show provides a platform to artists and stories that have no other outlet in South Australia—for example, Feast and Dino Hodge's books. The show features segments that give exposure to queer people that would not be suitable in any other program.

The Scrutineers, with a peering into the ballot box for a close-up review of elections from around the world and at home, go inside the election process. I know that members here might be interested to pay attention to that one, should they not already be across it. They look at everything from how we elect federal governments to local councils, from corporate boards to acting awards, and each week Casey and Dianne rifle through the returns and dive deep into our democratic systems.

Your Rights at Night, which is a longstanding show of Radio Adelaide—now, sadly, lost this year—has been operating since 2006, and it was part of the Your Rights at Work Campaign. It was designed to help cut through the traditional barriers presented by mainstream media, and over the years it has been hugely successful in achieving these aims. The program was built entirely from the ground up by committed union activists and featured prominently as part of the Your Rights at Work Campaign which was so successful. It ended in July 2015, sadly, but for almost 10 years it provided a great source of alternative news from the perspective of working people. The primary objective of this program was to shed light on the important campaigns being run by unions in South Australia and indeed across the nation.

Radionotes gets a special plug because John Murch, who does this late at night, has been a long stayer at Radio Adelaide. Indeed, my earlier interactions with Radio Adelaide used to include being a regular interviewee of John Murch on his morning program, which at that time was produced by Natasha Stott Despoja. She noted in her article in The Advertiser this week that she used to get that first train from Glenelg on a Monday morning, but I always remember that on a Sunday afternoon she would be the first to leave the pub so that she could get that first train from Glenelg.

I have often heard it said of Natasha that we all want to change the world but that Natasha Stott Despoja would get up early to do so. She got up early for that radio show on Radio Adelaide on Monday mornings for many, many years and she has obviously gone on to wonderful things. Her understanding and work with the media, I think, was very much honed by Radio Adelaide. Radionotes is the current incarnation of John Murch's show, and I would like to give him a plug. I certainly enjoy listening to that when I can catch it.

I hope that the campaign encourages our community members and the station's supporters to write submissions. We know that the University of Adelaide is considering a number of options for the future of Radio Adelaide. We urge the university to secure Radio Adelaide into the future, regardless of whether or not it continues to operate the station directly or transitions it to a new entity.

I also encourage members in this place, and in the other place, not only to support this motion today but to show their support for Radio Adelaide by joining the campaign and, indeed, subscribing to Radio Adelaide. Radio Adelaide and community media are important because, at a time when the control of the mainstream media is increasingly concentrated, alternative voices provided by community broadcasters are more important than ever, not just to our democracy but to our cultural fabric.

My final shout outs—and I know that other members will be commenting on this—are to a couple of programs: Local Noise, which promotes South Australian local music, and of course the very important work of the Paper Tracker. The Paper Tracker, of course, is well known to many in this place and the source of many questions in this place. Indeed, it tracks the promises made by particularly state government but by all governments to Anangu. The Paper Tracker program makes it easier also for Anangu to understand what governments are saying and doing in their communities. Parts of each radio show are broadcast in Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara; other parts are broadcast in English.

Paper Tracker provides access to information in remote Aboriginal communities where, in fact, information is limited, so the role of this community radio show and the important information that the Paper Tracker provides are not just important but, I think, vital. We cannot afford to let this communication channel be shut down, just as we cannot afford to lose Radio Adelaide. With those words, I look forward to contributions by other members and certainly look forward to another 43 years of Radio Adelaide flourishing in this state.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:13): I rise today to express my support for the motion moved by the Hon. Tammy Franks. Certainly, in my mind, Radio Adelaide has been part of South Australia's public life for 43 years. In 1972, the University of Adelaide had the vision to start and then support the first educational community radio station in Australia. Since then, thousands of volunteer program makers have passed through the studio, speaking for South Australia's diverse community. Many have gone on to achieve amazing things in the media and in public and cultural life, and we have heard the many success stories from the Hon. Tammy Franks.

I would also like to take this opportunity to place on the record my acknowledgement of the great vision of the University of Adelaide in starting the first community radio station in Australia. Radio Adelaide was established by the University of Adelaide as a distance education medium in 1972. It became the first community radio station in Australia and provides highly diverse talk and music radio services to the Adelaide metropolitan community. It is also a media production and training entity which is a registered RTO and serves the practical placement needs of the university media program.

The benefits of community radio cannot be underestimated. Not-for-profit community radio offers the public access to a more diverse range of music, information, news and views, than would otherwise be available from commercial or government based stations. It also provides communities with locally produced content that is immediately relevant to their daily lives. It allows individuals and community groups to participate in producing their own programs and to maintain their local culture.

Having a very strong local culture to me is so important because it is our identity and the South Australian identity. As the shadow parliamentary secretary for multicultural affairs, I recognise that Radio Adelaide's commitment to multiculturalism is a long-term and consistent one. It was the first to broadcast community language programs, with five going to air in 1974 immediately after restrictions on so-called foreign-language broadcasting were lifted.

The station's commitment has continued throughout; 14 communities currently broadcast in community languages, mostly new and emerging communities, and almost one-third of the station's 400-plus broadcasters (volunteers) speak a language other than English at home. I fully support a key objective in their strategic plan which is to be 'A Place of Cultural Diversity and Understanding', that is, to develop systems and processes so that all station activities, including programs, the roles that they play and the structures, support their commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion.

Twelve specific strategies support that aim, and one of those remarkable projects that I would like to highlight today is that Radio Adelaide created a series of 'Welcome to Adelaide' on-air messages promoting acceptance of diversity, language, learning and multiculturalism that are played at three regular times a day on an ongoing basis at 11am, 2pm and 9pm, and sit alongside the longstanding 'Welcome to Country' radio spots.

Growing up in a migrant family, I can confirm the personal experience that I had with my family and all my aunties and uncles living in multicultural communities and how they can relate to Radio Adelaide broadcasting many programs in different languages, because coming up from a migrant family, language is the core value that we hold dear to our hearts, and when we listen to those languages as broadcasts, we feel that Adelaide welcomes us, Australia welcomes us, and that is a very special feeling when we are listening to those in our own language. In terms of this 'Welcome to Adelaide' project, each message starts with the voice of a Radio Adelaide broadcaster, saying in English:

Welcome to Adelaide, where cultures meet

Where the unique stories within us all

Have a place, and a voice.

Welcome to Radio Adelaide.

This is followed by one of 16 language translations. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate so many hard-working volunteers and a huge team that help put it together with 34 people participating, 16 multilingual broadcasters, and another 16 English-speaking station workers from a wide range of backgrounds: male, female, young, older, young at heart (as the Hon. Tammy Franks already mentioned)—

The Hon. T.A. Franks interjecting:

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Every one of us is young at heart, aren't we? The messages were translated and recorded into the following languages: Latvian, Slovak, French, Hindi, Persian, Japanese, Italian, Vietnamese, Swahili, Lingala and Mashi, Mandarin and Malay, Polish, Spanish and Nepali with coordination by Deborah Welch and Jennie Lenman.

The Welcome to Adelaide project has been successful, receiving positive feedback and recognition as a finalist in the 2015 Community Broadcasting Association of Australia's National Awards for Excellence in Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasting presented in November 2015. With 90,000 regular weekly listeners to the FM and digital radio services, it has a broad reach within Adelaide, providing assistance to all members of the community regardless of background.

Therefore, I believe that Radio Adelaide's legacy must go on—so many years of contributions, so many ways across so many communities. I totally and wholeheartedly support this motion. In my concluding remarks I would like to convey my best wishes to Radio Adelaide and also to the University of Adelaide for looking at workable viable options for this radio station to go on because our legacy, our community and our identity of local cultures and communities must go on. I commend the motion to the house.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (16:20): I rise to offer the government's broad support for the motion. The government acknowledges Radio Adelaide's role in the community and in particular its contribution as a multicultural broadcaster. On 3 December I said publicly that Radio Adelaide has also been a critical outlet for up-and-coming local artists to get their music played. Community broadcasters such as Radio Adelaide present the only real opportunity for young people to gain the necessary skills to carve out careers in the media. Indeed, in Radio Adelaide's 43-year history—and I remember it as 5UV so that might age me—

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): Hear! Hear!

An honourable member: How old are you?

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Order! Oh, no, sorry, that's your job! It has assisted many South Australian artists, technicians and broadcasters to go on to a fulfilling career in South Australia and indeed Australia. To lose a community broadcaster based in the city and within the university does not assist the government's agenda in creating and maintaining a vibrant city.

The government acknowledges that the University of Adelaide is responsible for Radio Adelaide and the university operates within its own legislation, independent of the government and is free to make its own decisions. The university is currently seeking responses to its paper on the future of the station. The paper sets out five options for consultation and it is my understanding that only two of the options are viable for Radio Adelaide to continue.

It is appropriate that the university's process of genuine consultation continues which will inform the university in its eventual decision about the station. The university review of Radio Adelaide is timely given the reality of new technologies making it simpler and more efficient to create quality radio and audio streaming services for local and global audiences.

There is a diverse range of community radio stations currently providing specialist and niche programs in South Australia. I urge all stakeholders to take the opportunity, through the university's consultation process, to either put forward their own options or to make submissions and/or nominate their preferred option of the five outlined in the university's paper for the future of Radio Adelaide.

I have stated publicly my support for Radio Adelaide's campaign to urge the university to commit to a three to five-year staged transition to an independent organisation in a new location. South Australian universities provide a range of qualifications in communications, media, media arts and journalism, and some of these programs include internship arrangements which provide valuable technical experience in workplaces.

As said earlier, our media and communications graduates are adventurous and entrepreneurial and are well regarded by employers here, interstate and overseas. That is a positive reflection of the quality of education in our state and the role that Radio Adelaide has played in the industry. I note the broad support for Radio Adelaide to continue and I offer my support and hope that the university and the Radio Adelaide management, students and volunteers decide upon a model for the station to continue its valuable presence on the local airwaves of South Australia.

The Hon. S.G. WADE (16:24): I rise to indicate my support for the motion, and thank the Hon. Tammy Franks for bringing this matter to the attention of the council. My colleague, the Hon. Jing Lee, has already expressed the Liberal Party's support for the motion; in doing so she has highlighted the extraordinary contribution that Radio Adelaide has made over the past 43 years to the life of this state, a contribution that it continues to make today.

I do not intend to repeat those observations. Instead, I would like to highlight Radio Adelaide's particular contribution to South Australia's Aboriginal communities, in particular, the role it plays in celebrating and strengthening Aboriginal culture and languages through the production of four distinctive radio shows. Those shows are:

Aboriginal Message, a weekly half-hour program produced by South Australian Native Title Services;

Nunga Wangga, a two-hour program which airs each Monday night and which explores local, national and international issues of importance for Aboriginal listeners and showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music;

Nganampa Wangka, an hour-long weekly examination of the state of South Australian Aboriginal languages and the steps that Aboriginal people are taking to maintain, revive and reclaim that fundamental part of their identity and heritage; and

The Anangu Lands Paper Tracker, a half-hour weekly show that covers issues of importance for South Australia's remote Anangu communities and shines a spotlight on the way governments fund and deliver services and programs to the APY and Maralinga Tjarutja lands and to Yalata and Umoona communities.

These four shows provide Aboriginal people and the broader community with information and insights not usually available via other media outlets. In the case of the Paper Tracker program, these insights and information are delivered in the first languages of the shows' target audience, the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara communities. No-one should underestimate the capacity for these radio shows to hold the government of the day to account or reinvigorate some commitment that a government agency has placed in the proverbial too-hard basket.

A recent case in point is the way a series of interviews recorded for the Paper Tracker radio show uncovered how the Weatherill Labor government had broken its promise to have the APY Lands Steering Committee—a committee comprising representatives from state and federal government agencies and the APY Executive—monitor the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the 2008 Mullighan inquiry into child sexual abuse on the APY lands.

Those interviews not only confirmed that the APY Lands Steering Committee had not met for more than a year, they also revealed that, when it came to the important matter of child protection on the APY lands, the Minister for Education and Child Development was not on top of her portfolio or, at best, was being poorly advised. Subsequent to those interviews going to air, the matter was discussed in both houses of this parliament and picked up by other media outlets. Even better, the APY Lands Steering Committee has now reconvened after not meeting for 12 months and I am told that for the first time in two years child protection issues were on its agenda.

I should add that it is not only government ministers and bureaucrats who are held to account by the Paper Tracker and other Aboriginal radio shows produced at Radio Adelaide. For example, in the run-up to the 2014 election, Radio Adelaide's Paper Tracker program broadcast interviews with representatives of five political parties: the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party, Australian Greens, Dignity for Disability and Family First.

Those interviews provided voters living on the APY lands and in other remote Anangu communities with a much better understanding of each party's platform and position in relation to issues of critical importance to these communities and highlighted real and significant points of difference across the party political spectrum. And, of course, all that information was made available to Anangu voters in their first languages—Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara. In closing, I reiterate my support for the motion and acknowledge the unique and important contribution Radio Adelaide makes to the life of this state.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (16:28): I rise to speak briefly to associate myself with the motion and the remarks of other members. I do not intend to speak at length or to repeat the comments they have made. I just want to acknowledge from my own personal viewpoint the many young people over many years who have gained experience through 5UV—or Radio Adelaide, as it is now known—and who have gone on to productive careers, whether it be in the media or other occupations where their experience in community radio nevertheless has added to the skills and the skill set they have in their chosen careers.

As I said, I only intend to speak briefly. The University of Adelaide is an institution with which I have had a long-time connection as a student many years ago, as a member of the council for a brief period of time and, since then, as a member of a number of organisations associated with the university. I acknowledge, as the Hon. Mr Gazzola has said, that this is a decision for them as an independent organisation, but I believe that this motion will be unanimously supported by all members and parties in this chamber as an indication of the broad support that there is in the community—in this case in particular, in the parliament—for, hopefully, the university to find a way for Radio Adelaide to continue for many more years than the 43 years it has served the community thus far.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (16:30): I too wish to lend my support to the passing of this motion in the chamber. The motion has seven limbs; I do not propose to read them out but, to paraphrase, the motion expresses support for Radio Adelaide, acknowledges that it has been a key part of South Australia's public life for 43 years, notes that it provides a diverse range of communities with unique access to the airways and, as has just been pointed out to the chamber by the Hon. Rob Lucas, has provided countless opportunities for young men and women to enter the media sector.

It may not be well known in this chamber, but I actually underwent announcer training at 5UV many, many years ago when I was a student, but I never went on air. Other things transpired, and I was unable to do between two o'clock and three o'clock in the morning, which was the slot offered.

Members interjecting:

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): Interjections are out of order.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN: I am very concerned that Radio Adelaide may not have a future, because it is one of those things I thought I would always come back to, and return and complete the training. However, I do remember that I was reasonably competent at cutting tape and refitting the reels, which I am not sure they do anymore at Radio Adelaide.

Even when I was at university I was an avid listener of Radio Adelaide, and I have always believed it made a sizeable contribution to the life of the university and the South Australian community. It is my view that it is an integral part of the life of the university. The university is often identified—outside of, obviously, academic excellence—with sporting excellence, but what I suspect is not broadly understood in the wider community is the contribution that the university and its teaching staff and its students have made to the arts, particularly the humanities.

I think the fantastic programs that immediately come to mind are those mentioned by other members, such as Paper Tracker and the broadcasting in English and traditional languages across remote communities, not only providing them with entertainment but also informing them of important matters. So it is a powerful educational tool, not just for the listeners but also for those putting on the programs, and it has a very large volunteer base to draw upon, which is a credit to the management and enthusiasm of all those associated with Radio Adelaide.

It is disturbing to learn of its possible closure and, like the speaker before me, I encourage the university to explore ways in which Radio Adelaide can survive and thrive. I am heartened, to some extent, by the comments made by the Vice Chancellor, saying that he was reasonably optimistic and suggesting that more financial support from the public may be a possibility. Whatever the mechanisms I wish them well, and they have my support.

Having said that, I do appreciate that universities that host and sponsor cultural and community activities are increasingly faced with difficult choices, balancing the need to provide advanced teaching and research with other programs. This is certainly the opening sentiment in the university's briefing paper inviting response from key stakeholders, entitled '5UV: Radio Adelaide and the future.'

However perhaps the university, in working through this dilemma, may have regard to what is happening at Macquarie University. Macquarie University has launched an ambitious project to expand its Big History program into a multidisciplinary approach to solve real-world problems in business and public policy. This program unites sciences with the humanities to tell a story and investigate how to solve current day problems. In essence, the humanities are not being left on their own, or disregarded, or being overridden by the sciences or health sciences, but integrated.

I think that the work of Radio Adelaide is an important part of the humanities and arts and should be seen as an important component not only of university life but maybe as a means of integrating the arts with the other faculties. Perhaps there should be greater science programs or other aspects and not seen as a particular, siloed activity. In other words, I have always believed that humanities and community engagement are integral to the life of a university, and in particular Adelaide University.

I would encourage the university not to turn its back, not to turn in on itself. We need the university to look out and face the future challenges together with the people of South Australia, as it is the people of South Australia who have built and supported this university over time. I commend the motion to the chamber.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (16:35): Please bear with me a moment: I would like to say a few words to indicate my support for this motion and thank the Hon. Tammy Franks for bringing it to the parliament. Radio Adelaide is a very important contributor to the voice of our city and our state. It provides an invaluable training ground for young journalists and has seen many go off into proud stellar careers.

In fact, one of my very first interviews after I was appointed to this place following the 2010 election was with Radio Adelaide. This interview was conducted by Jessie Wingard, who has since become one of my dearest friends. Jessie completed a double degree in journalism and law and now works for an English language television and radio program in Germany, so she is representing Australia on the world stage of journalism, so to speak. Jessie's story is just one of Radio Adelaide's many successes.

Radio Adelaide also fills an important gap in having several programs in languages other than English, showcasing the diversity of our state, which is just one of the many things that make our state great. Almost a third of Radio Adelaide's more than 400 broadcasters speak a language other than English at home, and 14 of its programs are broadcast in languages other than English.

As an example of this, I would like to make particular mention of the Paper Tracker, which has already been mentioned and which not only discusses issues of importance to many people in Aboriginal communities but also actually tracks the record of government in delivering on its promises and meeting its obligations to Aboriginal people. As a person with disability, I know what it is to receive lip-service and know how vital it is that we have avenues to track government and put pressure on the government to deliver support, funding and programs which benefit us all.

I would also like to thank Radio Adelaide for its interest in the arts, particularly productions by small and medium community arts organisations and emerging artists. Lastly, I would like to note that Radio Adelaide recently undertook a program called Access All Areas. This was a training program for young people with a variety of disabilities. Radio Adelaide is one of the important, and one of the few, avenues amplifying the voices of people from many backgrounds and genuinely aiming to reflect the true diversity of our great state. For these reasons, I support the motion.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): The Hon. Ms Vincent, because of the nature of that presentation, could you just clarify for the record that that was your presentation, your submission to the motion by the Hon. Ms Franks?

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: Yes, sir; I wrote every word myself.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): Thank you, very much. I now call the Hon. Mr Ridgway.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (16:39): I also rise to support the motion and thank the Hon. Tammy Franks for bringing it to the council. I want to make a relatively brief contribution, and it is really around my first real interaction with Radio Adelaide when it was Radio 5UV and with Mr Keith Conlon. As a number of members would know, I was involved in an organisation called Rural Youth. It had a state executive, of which I was chairman at one stage, but it had an advisory council over the top of it. There were a number of people on that advisory council, and one of them was Mr Keith Conlon. Sadly, another one was Mr Rory McEwen, so I certainly rate Mr Keith Conlon much higher up the ladder of respect.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): The Hon. Rory McEwen, I believe.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The Hon. Rory McEwen.

Members interjecting:

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): Order!

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Thank you for your protection, Mr Acting President. I thought he actually had something to offer to the community at that point, but I was sadly disappointed.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I am being distracted.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): I think you should return to the debate, and two particular members on my right should cease to interject.

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: Sorry, sir. It just stirs me up when I think about them both.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): The Hon. Mr Ridgway should proceed.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Thank you. It was my interaction with Mr Keith Conlon and the work that he did and the valuable work that (at the time) Radio 5UV and now of course Radio Adelaide does that I think has provided such a wonderful opportunity for a vast number of people. I look at Keith Conlon as an example. I am not sure of his exact role, but he may have been there when it first started as Radio 5UV. Of course, we still see Keith Conlon on television shows, etc., today, so it certainly gave him an opportunity, and many other young journalists and presenters have had an opportunity.

It has also been a great voice for a whole range of people who are given the chance to get their message out. Often I have had the privilege of being invited down there for interviews in the studio on issues that are not necessarily mainstream, or perhaps drilling into an issue in more depth. I know that I had a long discussion several years ago around planning reforms, and that is the reason I wanted to make a couple of comments today. This topic we are dealing with, grinding our way through a bit of planning legislation, reminded me that I was invited down to talk about planning reform—Mount Barker, Buckland Park and some of the other disasters of the Labor government.

With those few words, I certainly hope that the university is able to find some way of progressing so that Radio Adelaide can continue its great work and the opportunity continues for hundreds of young people to be presenters and learn another skill. With those few words, I support the motion.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (16:41): I also rise to support this motion, and I congratulate my colleague, the Hon. Tammy Franks, on putting it on our agenda today. As this debate proceeds this afternoon, Radio Adelaide is broadcasting a program called The Range, which is their alternative drive-time program. The Range has different presenters each weekday evening, featuring new music from outside the mainstream. According to the Radio Adelaide webpage:

From the latest international acts to emerging local bands, you’ll hear it on The Range. Get up to speed with the local gig guide and interviews with touring and local artists. At the end of the week, turn up the volume and hear bands performing live from our studio on The Friday Sessions.

Whilst The Range is always good listening, I particularly enjoy the Wednesday edition of The Range, featuring Galen Cuthbertson and Ellie Parnell. Normally, at this point, I would have to declare a personal family interest—my daughter works at Radio Adelaide—but as members have realised by now through the previous contributions, the vast bulk of the 400 presenters and producers are volunteers, including my daughter, so there is no declaration of interest to make.

I know Ellie was keen to hear what I had to say about Radio Adelaide this afternoon, but she is on air, and she is talking, no doubt, to a lot more South Australians than we are. Both the parliament and Radio Adelaide are streamed live on the internet, but I would be amazed if we have 1 per cent of the audience that Radio Adelaide has. We need to do better in encouraging the people of South Australia to stream the Legislative Council's live proceedings.

Radio Adelaide is an iconic South Australian institution. As members have said already, it is Australia's longest-running community radio station, established back in 1972, the year I started secondary school. It is an institution that enriches the South Australian community with its presence. The university is now considering shutting down the station, directly or indirectly, by ceasing funding and support from June 2016, which would be a huge loss to this state.

The motion urges the university to consider a model that allows Radio Adelaide to thrive into the future. Of the five options suggested, only two give Radio Adelaide the future that it deserves: continued funding for the current amount by the university, or a three to five-year staged transition period to see it transferred to a new entity, location and operation.

Radio Adelaide contributes enormously to The University of Adelaide and the wider community. Many media and journalism students get their first real relevant work experiences at Radio Adelaide, making them competitive graduates and valuable employees. Radio Adelaide also broadcasts research and ideas coming out of the university through a range of programs from architecture to science.

But Radio Adelaide is also something that Adelaide University students, regardless of what they study, can get involved in. My daughter, Ellie, first got involved in very late-night student radio programming, known as Midnight Static, where a small but devout group of listeners would enjoy her anecdotes, impeccable music selection and insightful interviews.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: Mum and dad.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: The Hon. Stephen Wade interjects 'Mum and dad.' I will say that yes, I was known to listen, but rarely live and nearly always on the podcast because, like most mums and dads of my generation, I am usually tucked up in bed by the time Midnight Static goes to air. Anyway, I digress.

Whilst my daughter is not a media or a journalism student, Radio Adelaide has given her the opportunity to develop skills and confidence in presenting, production and editing, which are great skills applicable to a wide range of vocations. I note the Hon. Andrew McLachlan's contribution where he got to the first stage in his training and, whether it is a post-parliamentary career or at some stage in his life, I do urge him to go back and follow through with getting the microphone under control and going to air.

Radio Adelaide is also the voice of the community. It is radio made by South Australians for South Australians. Around 400 volunteers pour their heart and soul into the programs each week, and these programs are incredibly diverse. I have mentioned architecture, but there is also current affairs, jazz, research, mental illness, science, French music and culture, Aboriginal languages, youth issues, social justice, sports, local music, queer culture, women's issues, the arts, local films, peace, environmental news, Latin American news, Nepalese culture, and the list goes on.

Radio Adelaide, as others have said, is also the only station in Adelaide to have a queer (LGBTIQ) radio program, which is incredibly important, especially for queer young people. Radio Adelaide is also linguistically diverse. Programs are presented in 10 different languages, including Swahili, Spanish, Persian, Polish and Farsi, as well as a range of South Australian Aboriginal languages, including Kaurna, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, Narungga and Ngarrindjeri.

As an example of how important Radio Adelaide is to culturally diverse communities, the current published program guide features a cover story about former Bhutanese refugees broadcasting a radio program every week to help their community settle into Adelaide.

You simply need to scroll through the many hundreds of comments on the petition page to see just why this station means so much to so many people. It provides invaluable education and experience for media students; acts as a training ground for journalists and broadcasters who then go on to work across Australia and internationally; allows for marginalised groups to have a voice; fosters social connections; helps support unemployed youth through training and experience; showcases local arts and music; and for many local bands Radio Adelaide is their first airplay and exposure.

I saw in The Advertiser on Monday that the iconic Aria-nominated Adelaide band, The Beards, were supporting Radio Adelaide. Members might know of the band, The Beards, through their hit songs If Your Dad Doesn't Have a Beard, You've Got Two Mums and Got Me A Beard. According to band members, Facey McStubblington and John Beardman Jr, the station is imperative to nurturing and exposing local acts like themselves. Mr McStubblington said:

I've read that there is still hope so that's why we're getting behind it. It's not over—we need people to get on the petition and genuinely show support or listen to the station.

Mr Acting President, as a fellow bearded man, I have no doubt that you would take these words to heart. I agree with Mr McStubblington and John Beardman Jr. I agree with them wholeheartedly and I urge all members to support this motion.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): I call the Minister for Innovation and Manufacturing.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (16:49): Thank you, the bearded Acting President.

The ACTING PRESIDENT (Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins): Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I will not speak for a great deal of time. I will note some of the comments other members have made. The Hon. Stephen Wade gave a great summary of some of the Indigenous programs that Radio Adelaide broadcasts. Many of these are exceptionally important. I think I have appeared on the majority of these programs during the course of this year, and the importance of programs like Paper Tracker is not just holding government to account, which is a very important function, but it is also being able to get information across in a way that is very hard to do through any other medium. I think the information that Paper Tracker gets to people on the APY lands would not reach many people if it were not for that program. If that was the only thing that we were talking about, that would be worthwhile in itself.

Many people have spoken about the diversity of programming that appears on Radio Adelaide (and formerly 5UV) and certainly the individual stories are exceptionally important. The way we see ourselves is reflected in the way we are able to hold ourselves out to other people and I think an avenue like Radio Adelaide gives people and groups of people an avenue to tell their stories, to explain to the community, what is important affects how they regard themselves, levels of self-esteem and their issues.

I think the diversity that Radio Adelaide has in their programming is absolutely crucial to South Australia. I might go on from the Hon. Andrew McLachlan's contribution. I note and I applaud the fact that he underwent radio training at 5UV and I must say, unlike the lack of follow-through that the Hon. Andrew McLachlan is able to demonstrate, I, too, underwent the training but spent a couple of years in the mid-90s co-hosting a show on 5UV. It was a lot of fun and I can remember—

The Hon. S.G. Wade: What sort of show?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: A general variety show, and I am reliably informed that none of the reels, as they were recorded back then, survive to this day which is exceptionally fortunate because I do not think it was of particularly high quality. We had the younger brother of a friend who we let push the buttons because we did not think he was experienced or good enough to get behind the microphone, but he showed all of us and went on to a career with SAFM, Triple M and a number of other radio stations both on and off air. My chief of staff spent his formative years at university presenting shows on 5UV at the time, so I think for a wide range of people the diversity of our communities, particularly our Indigenous communities, and for people who got their start in public life through 5UV and Radio Adelaide, it is critically important. I congratulate the Hon. Tammy Franks for bringing this to the chamber.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (16:52): I want to thank sincerely those members who have made a contribution today: the Hons Jing Lee, John Gazzola, Stephen Wade, Rob Lucas, Andrew McLachlan, Kelly Vincent, David Ridgway, my colleague Mark Parnell, and the honourable minister Kyam Maher. We know that 5UV and now Radio Adelaide has been a digital pioneer but I want to acknowledge that we have just seen some digital pioneering in the contribution of the Hon. Kelly Vincent, so I look forward to reading that in Hansard. I know that those who are listening live to this debate— and certainly it is on the Twittersphere at the moment—will have appreciated that groundbreaking aspect of the debate today.

I have long been a fan of formerly 5UV and now Radio Adelaide. I enjoy listening to it. I did not do training in community radio at Radio Adelaide or 5UV. I did actually do training at 5PBA, and I used to have a student radio show for many years. In fact, it has just been brought to my mind that that is the first time I met the now Attorney-General when I interviewed him with senator-to-be Natasha Stott Despoja and then Senator Baden Teague during the 1993 federal election where Fightback! and education vouchers were the topic of my interview. I have long been interviewed and been involved with people who have been involved in community radio, particularly Radio Adelaide, but of course the other community radio stations. I must also acknowledge the work of the WIA, which is a community broadcasting national enterprise in which a lot of the work is done by Radio Adelaide volunteers and broadcast around the country. People like Catherine Zengerer have made their career transition into media from that platform.

One final show I did want to mention is a show that was probably as short lived as minister Maher's. It was student radio, Naked Radio. The late Lachlan Strapps and companions used to, in the wee hours of the morning, interview me when I was the National Union of Students state president. They would say that they were naked; we were never really sure, but I am pretty sure there were very few people in the station who could attest either way.

Certainly, I did the show from my home in my pyjamas or my trackie daks. Naked Radio back in the 1990s was a niche market, but a very good training ground, as was that training and community radio. So many people get their start or transition careers in this way. The voice of the people is too vital to lose. Adelaide University needs to make a decision that gives certainty into the future and allows Radio Adelaide to transition in a timely manner, not give them a death sentence seven months from now. With those few words, I commend the motion.

Motion carried.

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