Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor strongly supports the value of community radio to our nation and we have engaged with the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia in determining our position on this motion. I ask that the question be divided under standing order 84(3) so that the opposition can vote differently on parts (a) and (b) of the motion. Recognising the contribution of community radio to the diversity of our media environment and the service it provides to so many people around Australia, the opposition will be supporting part (a). As a party of government, Labor is unable to support making a future funding commitment through a motion in the Senate and will be opposing part (b). The opposition proposed an alternative form of words to call on the Australian government to adequately fund community digital radio that we could have supported and that would have been satisfactory to the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, but we accept Senator Hinch's decision to proceed with the motion currently before the Senate.