Senator Ludlum asked:
What measures will the Federal Government implement to address the decline in funding to the community broadcasting sector over the past fifteen years?

What has the Federal Government done to improve support for community television, radio and television infrastructure, sector coordination, training, and content development, in the context of the 2008-09 Federal Budget?

When will the Federal Government respond to the Community Broadcasting report which followed a twelve-month Inquiry into Community Broadcasting?

Answer:
In the 2008-09 Budget the Australian Government provided a total of $8,808,119 (plus $880,812 GST) to support the community broadcasting sector. The 2008-09 funding maintained the previous year's funding in real terms and introduced new funding for the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP).

Funds for 2008-09 were available for expenditure on sector coordination and research, ethnic and Indigenous program grants, general program grants, transmission support, training, digital radio and to promote contemporary Australian bands and musicians on community radio.

The community sector will receive $600,000 per annum from 2008-09 to 2011-12 for the AMRAP, which implements an election commitment. The AMRAP produces and distributes radio content and promotes Australian music as well as developing an online resource for community broadcasters, musicians, industry bodies and audiences to learn about emerging artists.

The 2008-09 Budget also included $600,000 to continue the community broadcasting National Training Program which enables the community radio sector to plan and deliver accredited training. Through this initiative, community broadcasting stations are eligible to benefit from increased access to both on-air and off air training. The program also has, as a priority, the training needs of radio for the print handicapped, Indigenous and ethnic community broadcasting.

The Government is considering its response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts reports Tuning in to Community Broadcasting and Community Television: Options for Digital Broadcasting.