Federal Budget: no funding cuts for community radio

Last night’s Federal Budget spared cuts to the community radio sector, although the ABC and SBS face a funding loss of $43.5 million.

Community Broadcasting Association of Australia President Adrian Basso hailed the announcement as a “fantastic outcome” for the country’s 360+ community stations, 22,000 volunteers and 5.2 million listeners.

Basso says, “Community stations run on the smell of an oily rag – if the Government had cut funding tonight, as modest as the funding is, it could have spelt the end of many vital community radio services.

“We are hopeful that this means the Government is committed to supporting community broadcasting into the future. Community radio and TV stations deserve to know that they are secure not just in the short-term, but also in the longer term.”

The community broadcasting sector and its supporters ran a high-profile campaign from last week to fight any cutbacks, following the Commission of Audit’s recommendation that the funding worth $17.5 million be scrapped.