OPPOSITION LEADER AND NTCA ENTER ABC DEBATE

OPPOSITION LEADER & NTCA ENTER ABC DEBATE

A report in the online Guardian Australia says that Australian opposition leader, Bill Shorten, has stepped into the debate by sending the Prime Minister, Mr. Turnbull, a letter pleading to work with the Labor Party, the ABC, and stakeholders in outback Northern Territory to develop a solution for this important service. Entitled Bill Shorten calls on Turnbull to save ABC shortwave radio broadcasts, in part the report by Helen Davidson in Darwin says:

Labor leader says reasons to shut down service ‘do not account for the reality of service availability in remote areas’

On Thursday, Shorten wrote to Turnbull, asking him to work with ABC management, local stakeholders and Labor “as a matter of urgency to ensure the continued provision of shortwave radio service in the NT beyond 31 January 2017.”

“The ABC’s claim that the majority of listeners will be able to access ABC services via AM/FM radio, digital radio and online streaming, or via VAST [viewer access satellite television] platform does not account for the reality of service availability in remote areas,” wrote Shorten.

“This helps to explain why listeners and users of the ABC shortwave in the Northern Territory have been unequivocal in voicing their concern at the Coalition’s failure to intervene in this matter. This includes emergency services workers and cattle growers.

Read the full article at:
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/27/bill-shorten-calls-on-turnbull-to-save-shortwave-radio-broadcasts-in-nt

Frankly, Shorten should have stepped in on this issue much sooner. Doing so would have shown that he really cares about people in the outback (not just unions and workers in big cities....where the majority of votes lie). This is too little, too late. 

AND IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT........

The Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association (NTCA) reports that Territory Minister Ken Vowles supports the NTCA's call to save the shortwave service. Mr Vowles writes:

The Northern Territory Government was surprised and dismayed at the decision of the ABC to end short wave transmission services in the Northern Territory from 31 January 2017, and concerned about the lack of consultation by the ABC before making this decision.

It appears that the ABC has not appreciated the breadth of usage of its shortwave radio service, the value of this service to multiple industry sectors and the community or the potentially severe consequences ceasing the service for the people, communities and industry here in the Northern Territory.

You can read the full article entitled Our Minister Ken Vowles supports NTCA members and calls for urgent help to save ABC short-wave radio service for Territorians at the NTCA's website.

FINALLY....

Not so long ago, shortwave radio listeners will remember that the international shortwave service of Radio Exterior de España was closed down. Within a few short months, it was reopened with a small but important service to Spanish sailors travelling on large ships around the world, with programming designed to keep them in touch with news, sport and culture from home. Hopefully, the same can be achieved with the NT shortwave service. 

It's all about keeping up the pressure.

73 and good DX to you all,

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

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