Perth Voice Interactive

ESKIMO JOE guitarist Stuart MacLeod says the $1.4 million cut to digital community radio in the federal budget will put non-commercial stations in Perth under severe pressure.

Mr MacLeod, who in December was appointed general manager of RTR in Mt Lawley, says it means the station will lose at least $10,000 in government subsidies.

“It may not be a lot of cash for the big commercial radio stations, but for community stations like us it is a crucial amount of money,” he says.

“We are already having to put tens of thousands into the digital side of things, so every cent of funding we can get is vital.

“We got digital funding for the past three years and the expectation was for it to continue, but it was unexpectedly cut in the budget.”

Community Broadcasting Association of Australia CEO Jon Bisset says the $1.4m ensured community radio stations in Australia’s capital cities could broadcast digitally.

The association has started an online petition calling on the major parties to reinstate the funding after the election.

At the time of going to print the http://www.keepcommunityradio.org.au petition had collected 18,000 signatures.

Mr Bisset says the cuts come in the wake of commercial TV and radio broadcasters benefiting from immediate licence fee reductions, starting at 25 per cent, and with more reductions under consideration.

“Excluding community broadcasters from digital broadcasting threatens the whole community broadcasting sector’s key role in Australian free-to-air broadcasting,” he says. “This is particularly concerning given the planned reforms to media ownership, which are likely to result in a less diverse media landscape and less opportunities for community voices to be heard.

“For over 40 years, Australian governments have been committed to community radio standing alongside commercial and national radio services on available free-to-air broadcast platforms. Now, we see that position under threat.”

Mr MacLeod says most people listen to radio in their car, and for a while digital has been standard in new vehicles rolling off the production line.

“Digital radio is the way forward and community radio stations need to be onboard with it,” he says. “It’s true that internet services like Pandora are coming online, but they don’t give that uniquely local content that community radio provides.

“Our shows are diverse and champion alternative issues that the mainstream shy away from, including gender equality and LGBTI.”

Perth-metro community radio stations broadcasting digitally include Noongar, Sonshine, Curtin and Capital Community.

There are around 444 community radio stations across Australia, with most relying on volunteers, sponsors and donations.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK