Community radio and television stations, their staff, volunteers and supporters are today celebrating the 50th Anniversary of community broadcasting. On September 23, 1974 the Whitlam Labor Government took a Cabinet decision to create the community broadcasting sector.

“It was a landmark moment for the Australian media,” said Jon Bisset, CEO of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia.

“This historic policy paved the way for this third broadcasting sector to flourish in Australia, alongside the national broadcaster (ABC) and commercial broadcasters.”

Then Minister for Media, Senator the Hon Douglas McClelland reported the decision to Parliament heralding “a new era in the advancement of radio development in Australia.”

“In the past 50 years [1924-1974] we have developed in this country a dual system of broadcasting involving the national service on the one hand and the commercial system on the other. The Australian Government has adopted the view that the major inadequacy of broadcasting in Australia is the absence of public stations for the broadcasting of information and entertainment for minority audiences who would not otherwise be catered for by either the Australian Broadcasting Commission or the commercial services.” (Hansard, 25 September 1974)

Community broadcasting licenses were envisaged to be allocated to a wide variety of community groups including

• “those who represent organisations that think they have something to say and want some better means of saying it”

• “those who are associated with communities cut off from their rights and entitlements”

• groups interested in “fine music”, “speakers of languages other than English”, “aboriginal groups”, “the socially and economically deprived”, “churches”, “universities”, “local governments”, “sporting groups”, “the 16-25 age group”, “welfare groups”, “ethnic groups”, or other community groups, ‘Aborigines in Redfern’, pensioners and the disabled.

1974 Cabinet Papers

John Martin, inaugural Manager of 2MCE-FM, former CBAA Chair and historian of community radio said, “The Whitlam Government granted the first three, and then a further 12 broadcasting licenses to community groups between 1974-74 and the initiative was cemented by the Fraser Government in 1976 which really enabled the sector to grow.”

“Community radio has more than delivered on the vision of the Whitlam Government.”

50 years on, the community broadcasting sector today delivers over 500 AM/FM/DAB+ services and two dedicated television services that reach over 5.19 million people across Australia each week – almost one quarter (24%) of Australians. Community participation remains the backbone of the sector with 941 employees and 18,100 volunteers.

“Community broadcasting continues to play a vital role in giving a voice to Australian communities that otherwise would not be heard.

“They are important to serving diverse communities and local geographies including sub-metropolitan areas, regional and remote communities. They provide a platform for communities such as First Nations, people with disabilities and ethnic communities l, or specific genres of music, producing an eclectic range of programs catering to particular community interests.”

In 1974 Cabinet also approved licenses for the three oldest community radio stations Radio Adelaide, 2MBS and 3MBS. Cabinet approved the invitation to Music Broadcasting Society of NSW (2MBS), Music Broadcasting Society of Victoria (3MBS) to set up experimental FM Broadcasting Stations. The University of Adelaide (5UV/ Radio Adelaide) was invited to extend its broadcast.

In 1975, the subsequent Labor Minister for the Media Dr Moss Cass, announced the expansion of community broadcasting licences (then known as experimental licences) to an additional 12 organisations:

1. University of New England (2ARM-FM)

2. University of Newcastle (2NUR-FM)

3. University of Queensland Union (4ZZZ-FM)

4. Australian National University Student Union (2XX)

5. Mitchell College of Advanced Education (2MCE-FM)

6. Western Australian Institute of Technology (6NR)

7. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (3RMT-FM)

8. Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (4DDB-FM)

9. Tasmanian College of Advanced Education (7CAE-FM)

10. Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education (2NCR-FM)

11. The University of Western Australia (6UWA-FM)

12. Gippsland Institute of Advanced Education (3GCR-FM)

In the following years, Liberal Minister for Post and Telecommunications from 1977-1980, the Hon Tony Staley MP continued work to grow community broadcasting by putting in place the legislative framework to support the expansion of licences in an ongoing manner.

Facts on community broadcasting today

50 years on, the community broadcasting sector today deliver over 500 AM/FM/DAB+ services and two dedicated television services that reach over 5.19 million people across Australia each week – almost one quarter (24%) of Australians.

The sector’s social and economic impact is driven by:

 18,100 volunteers

 941 employees

 generating $1/4 billion in value

Community broadcasting continues to play an important role in connecting Australian communities

that are underserved by media.

Community broadcasters enrich and strengthen the social and cultural fabric of Australian society and

amplify the voices of diverse Australian communities.

Regional and remote Australia:

 74% of licensees are based in regional and remote areas.

 62% of regional listeners say their main reason to tune in is for local information and news.

First Nations Australians:

 51 organisations provide 158 services, the great majority in regional and remote areas.

 Australians from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background are 44% more likely than the

general population to listen to community radio.

2MBS in 1974.