Parliament Passes Community Radio Bill

Parliament passes licensing improvements for community broadcasters

A bill to support community broadcasting (the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Community Radio) Bill 2022) passed through the Parliament overnight.

The Bill will streamline licensing, provide greater certainty for stations, and enhance the sustainability of the community broadcasting sector.

Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland spoke to the Bill in parliament.

“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,” she said.

Jon Bisset, CEO of Community Broadcasting Association of Australia has thanked the Minister for progressing the Bill in a busy Parliamentary period and thanked MPs for their strong bi-partisan support of the sector.

“On behalf of all community radio stations and community TV the CBAA thanks the Parliament for their strong acknowledgement of the contribution our sector makes to the cultural and social fabric of the nation.

“I also thank Parliament for bi-partisan support of this bill, which will make it easier for existing community radio stations to renew their licences, removing uncertainty by ensuring it is a non-competitive process.

“The Bill also allows the regulator (the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to be flexible in setting renewal deadlines and in providing advanced notice of broadcasting licence commencement dates,” he said.

For more information on the Bill, read the CBAA’s full media release.
To view highlights from the speeches to Parliament visit CBAA’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Source: Community Broadcasting Association of Australia