3. Dec. 92 9: 43 No. 017 P. 01/ 09
PRIME MINISTER
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J.
KEATING, MP, AND MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND
COMMUNICATIONS, SENATOR BOB COLLINS.
SBS RADIO NETWORK TO GO NATIONAL
The Federal Government will establish a -national SBS radio
-network to meet the increasing needs of ethnic communities around
Australia. Federal Cabinet this week approved the establishment of the
service. The new service will provide Sydney and Melbourne with a second
SBS radio outlet to complement the 2EA and 3EA stations.
It will provide ethnic communities in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane,
Darwin, Hobart, and Canberra with their first full SBS radio
service. The network will begin broadcasting in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth
Brisbane and Darwin from December. 1993.
Broadcasting in Sydney, Canberra and Hobart would begin from July,
1994. There is currently insufficient air time available on 2EA and 3EA
and volunteer-based public radio stations which now offer multilinguae
programs to ruly saiisty me programming aemanas or all
ethnic communities in Sydney and Melbourne.
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TEL: 3. Dec. 92 9: 43 No .017 P. 02/ 0-
The now-services, which will broadcast on the FM band in all cities
except Melbourne, will help meet the needs of ethnic communities
for programs in their own languages.
SBS will develop programming schedules in consultation with
ethnic communities and stakeholders groups prior to taking
decisions on program content, format and schedules.
This assessment will be undertaken with theCommunity Advisory
Committee which is to be established to advise the _ SBS Board.
The decision to establish the national service is a firm indication
of the Federal Government'$ ongoing commitment to SBS and
community broadcasting in general.
Canberra. December 3, 1992.
Media Inquiries:
Mr Keating's office: Greg Turnbull 06-2777744
Senator Collins office: Brian Johnstone 06-2777200