Advocating
for a Strong Future

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CBAA secures the funding, policy and regulation that keep community broadcasting strong. Our advocacy ensures the sector is recognised as an essential part of Australia’s media landscape, delivering free and independent media to millions every week.

Case Study

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CBAA CEO Jon Bisset with Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy at CONVERGE 2024

  • $27 million in extra funding (22% increase)

  • 7 submissions to Government

  • 40 MP meetings
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In 2024–25, our advocacy delivered milestones that give stations greater certainty and set the stage for future reforms. Through the Community Broadcasting Sustainability Review, our submission shaped government policy on program design, regulation and funding. This work directly contributed to the Government’s 22% funding increase, worth $27 million over three years, and a stronger long-term partnership with the sector.

The Community Radio Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2025, approved by ACMA and with 98% member endorsement, modernise the framework that underpins the sector. The Codes are simpler to apply and, for the first time in Australian media, include measures to address misinformation and disinformation. New training and resources are already helping stations embed them in daily practice.

Unified advocacy across the sector

From June to August 2024, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (DITRDCSA) conducted its Review into Community Broadcasting Sustainability. The review examined funding structures, legislative and regulatory settings, and First Nations funding and licensing.

CBAA led a coordinated sector response, ensuring every station and organisation had the opportunity to contribute. We facilitated communication and engagement across the sector, resulting in 31 submissions to the Department, with 73 representatives attending 11 workshops and 42 licensees meeting one-on-one with the Department. CBAA attended each workshop and worked closely with sector organisations to align submissions through the Roadmap 2033 framework, ensuring the sector presented a unified position on sustainability, capability, and emerging needs.

Our submission addressed all Australian Government policy areas impacting the sustainability of community broadcasting. We called for an immediate and substantial increase to funding to deliver Roadmap 2033 and made recommendations on the structure and funding of the Community Broadcasting Program (CBP) and the Indigenous Broadcasting and Media Program (IBMP), as well as on legislation, regulation, and the operation of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

CBAA attended each workshop and worked closely with sector organisations to align submissions through the Roadmap 2033 framework, ensuring the sector presented a unified position on sustainability, capability, and emerging needs.

Following these and other submissions, Minister for Communications the Hon Michelle Rowland MP announced new funding of $15 million over three years for the CBP and $12 million over three years for the IBMP.

DITRDCA released its Findings Report on 5 March 2025, following a meeting between Minister Rowland and CBAA CEO Jon Bisset. The report recommended reforms to CBP granting arrangements, funding priorities and processes; modernisation of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992; and the development of a First Nations Broadcasting Strategy to improve IBMP delivery in line with Closing the Gap reforms. It also highlighted the need for the sector to reduce operational costs, diversify revenue, and improve program effectiveness.

In 2026, we will continue working with members and sector partners to deliver the next stage of legislative and regulatory reform to increase efficiency and enable new income streams. We will also advocate for long-term, indexed investment in community broadcasting through the CBP and IBMP, ensuring stations have the resources they need to serve their communities well into the future.

CBAA CEO Jon Bisset & former Minister for Communications the Hon Michelle Rowland MP with Sustainability Review Report

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