PM Transcripts

-jsAUSTRALIA
PRIME MINISTER 7
FOR MEDIA 29 APRIL 1979
LAUNCHING OF ETHNIC TELEVISION
What you're seeing is the start of an experiment in Australian
television. An experiment that recognises that Australia is a
multicultural society.
Hundreds of thousands of migrants have enriched Australia both
culturally and materially. They have changed Australia for the
better to a society which has as its citizens people from all
over the world, representatives of many different cultures.
This experirlent in ethnic T. V. will bring together these cultures
for all Australians to share. To me, that's what's important
about multiculturalism and ethnic television it helps us all
to be more tolerant and understanding of each other and of one
another's history, culture and artistic achievements.
At the moment ethnic television is on an experimental basis.
It will present a range of different types of programs covering
entertainment, conununity news, local and overseas information,
education, s; port and special interest programs.
Today's pro,; ram is only a start. It arises from this Government's
acceptance of the Galbally Report's recommendatic, that a permanent
ethnic television service be established.
We want the community to be involved in the fullest possible
way in the ethnic T. V. service and the experimental period will
allow membe: s of the community to make a judgement on the value
of the diff. erent programs.
The experiment is starting on Sunday morning, but we look forward
to the day when ethnic television is not just restricted to Sundays.
We want you to say what you want to see and when you want to see it.
All viewers will have the opportunity to make their suggestions
about ethniz television to the Chairman of the Ethnic Television
Review Panel, Mr Frank Galbally.
The success of the ethnic television service depends on you, the
viewer, making your opinions known.
Ethnic televrision will add a new and exciting_ ension to
Australian Droadcasting. I will be taking a close -ersonal interest
in this initative and I offer my best wishes to all thosnvolved
in the experimental service.
I hope that the programs will be challenging, at times provocative,
and of interest to all Australians. o0o--