Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I am particularly pleased to be able to join in the debate today on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2008. As the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has outlined, this is a common-sense bill which is designed to enhance the continued operation of community radio. In our respective electorates we all have community radio stations. These stations operate in the community using the services of volunteers. They have very few paid staff, but they do provide a valuable service to the community. There are different sorts of community radio stations—there are those based on a geographic area; there are some that are religious radio stations; there are some that assist ethnic people—but all of them in their own way carry out a particularly important role. It is not appropriate that we always ought to have the same rules applying to community radio as perhaps to other broadcasters.

Because these community radio stations are often run by volunteers who are not paid, it is not realistic to expect that they will always dot the i’s and cross the t’s as you would require of a commercial broadcasting operation. It is a pity that adequate flexibility has not been in the legislation until now. I believe this bill, which is supported by both sides of the House, ought to pass through the parliament as quickly as possible so that community radio can continue in areas where perhaps some of the technical provisions with respect to the renewal of licences have not been fully attended to. I am very pleased to support the bill and I commend it to the chamber and to honourable members.

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