Communication Minister Stephen Conroy was on the Jon Faine morning program on ABC Radio in Melbourne yesterday defending the federal government decision to hand $250 million in the form of licence discounts to the TV networks. It made for interesting listening. Click here to hear the whole interview.
Conroy pleads the case that the TV networks are going through considerable structural change and that the government should support them in this.
He also defends his regular meetings with heads of networks and other media outlets.
Newsagents are going through a more extensive and expensive structural change and the federal government, this one and the last one, is not offering any support. In relative terms, the impact of structural change on newsagents is greater than the TV networks yet we don’t even get anywhere near the table for a discussion.
The best way for us to express our disappointment at the $250 million to TV networks and continued ignorance of the cost of structural change on our local family-run businesses is to write to our local members – regardless of their political colours. I did this recently on another issue and received excellent support.
It is around this issue of the cost of structural change that the government has, through Conroy, articulated a precedent. We can meet the ‘test’ laid down by Conroy and should therefore be in line for financial support to help us navigate structural change.
Listen to the interview and judge for yourself whether Conroy was successful in defending the government decision.
What Conroy is doing is greasing the tv media for an easy ride in the next federal election. We already have the internet up and running so whats the money for , seems very choosy just giving money to the TV networks. Lots of other media are doing it just as tough including newsagents This government will do everything and just about anythingto stay in power. Conroy is only doing what rudd tells him, the guy doesn’t put up a strong case at all
This is exactly the stuff our Associations should be pursuing.How hard can it be for them to put together a strategy chasing the same considerations others seem to reap so easily from this rapidly unravelling goverment.
Mark,
As you have the vision and have previously received excellent support perhaps you could identify the structual change and the type of support that is warranted from the Fed Gov to help us navigate the change for apparantly the Associations have no idea.
I t may well be a good time to isnstigate this as Associations meet with the idea of unity once again. This could give common cause especially with your guidance after all why should one media be favoured over another?
Graeme,
The structure challenges of our channel are well documented here and elsewhere and have been for some time.
Those representing newsagents and newsagents themselves have an opportunity to put the case of the channel to the government, opposition and local members in a concerted campaign.
I’d be happy to make suggestions to associations if they were interested. However, they have to be interested first.
I agree though it appears that in action it does not happen. It’s a pity that they don’t call on your experience maybe some members might approach them on this and other current issues such as Aust Post.