Australians are currently served by two public broadcasting networks. While both the ABC and the SBS have charters that require them to broadcast programs that, in the case of the ABC, “reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community”, and, in the case of SBS, “contribute to meeting the communications needs of Australia’s multicultural society, including ethnic, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities”, both broadcasters are inadequately funded and consequently constrained in their ability to fully realise their obligations.

Given that Indigenous Australians comprise 2.75% of the Australian population, live in areas across the length and breadth of the country, are disproportionately located in remote areas where access to broadcasting is already limited and speak more than 90 languages, some of which are spoken by only a handful of people, it is not surprising that adequately providing for this sector of the broadcast audience has proved difficult for broadcasters with mandates as comprehensive (and appropriately so) in their expectations as those of the ABC and the SBS.

The Alliance believes that all Australians have the right to see and hear stories that reflect their own culture.