Michelle Rowland (Greenway, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Communications) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the members who have contributed to the debate on the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Community Radio) Bill 2022. The government recognises the crucial role that the community broadcasting sector plays in connecting, informing and empowering local communities, particularly in our regions and among multicultural and First Nations communities. Over five million Australians each week rely on the diversity of programming offered by community radio. We want all Australians to have access to a vibrant range of news media as well as relevant local media, where no one voice dominates political and social debates. Alongside our national broadcasters, commercial broadcasters and subscription broadcasters, community radio services provide much-needed diversity. They keep communities safe, engaged and informed.

The bill will make amendments to parts 3, 6 and 6A of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to provide greater certainty to broadcasters and support listener access to high-quality and diverse community radio services. There have been recent issues related to legal proceedings and the practical application of legislative provisions around community broadcasting licensing. These unintended outcomes have the potential to reputationally impact the community broadcasting sector. The six measures included in this bill are designed to address these concerns. Their successful passage through parliament will have positive impacts for community broadcasters, listeners and the regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority. These reforms are consistent with the government's commitment to support the sustainability of the community broadcasting sector and better reflect its important role in the diversity of Australia's media and broadcasting environment. They are an important first step towards increasing access to high-quality, locally relevant news, information and content for all Australians.

In recognition of the importance of community broadcasting across Australia, the government has committed funding in the federal budget and commenced a review into the sustainability of the sector. The budget includes an additional $4 million per year of ongoing funding for the Community Broadcasting Program from 2023-24, taking total annual funding for the program to over $20 million per year. The review will identify further opportunities to improve the sector's sustainability in consultation with community broadcasters. This will inform future broader-ranging measures which will examine what a modern community radio service should look like. This process could lead to more detailed regulatory changes in future.

This bill demonstrates the government's continuing commitment to facilitating a regulatory environment in which community broadcasters can operate with ease. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

Sitting suspended from 12:57 to 16:00

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