There are three types of community broadcasting in Australia:
general public broacasting, ethnic broadcasting, and aboriginal
broadcasting. In 1992, the government allocated some $100 million
dollars a year to the non-ethnic, non-aboriginal sector, and $65
million a year to ethnic broadcasters. Only seven million dollars
was spent on aboriginal broadcasting.
There are three exclusively indigenous radio stations (in Alice
Springs, Brisbane and Townsville), and one indigenous community
television station (Alice Springs) in the country.
Tiga Bayles is the Chairperson of the National Indigenous Media
Association of Australia. He also works with the Brisbane
Indigenous Media Association, and is AMARC's vice president for
Oceania. In the following article, based upon an interview, he
describes the oppression suffered by Australia's aboriginal
population, and their struggle to access to the media, community
radio in particular.
"Up until twenty-five years ago aboriginal people were not
counted in the census, we were not allowed to vote. We were not
recognized as people.
"The racism has been very severe. Australia is a well-developed
country but we have Third World problems in our communities. Life
expectancy for indigenous adult males is 20 years shorter than
for non-aboriginal people. The rate of imprisonment of Native
people ranks among the highest in the world; two per cent of the
17 million people in Australia are aboriginal, yet in some of the
jails up to 75 per cent of the jail population is indigenous.
It's a racist criminal justice system that puts my people in
jail. About 75 per cent of our people are unemployed. Generally
we are denied basic human rights as defined by the United
Nations.
The need for aboriginal media:
"We make it into the media when there are negative issues to be
presented. Negative aspects of the aboriginal community are
sensationalized. The negativity, bias and misrepresentation in
the media has forced aboriginal people to look around and see
what media resources we can access ourselves.
"We identified public radio - community radio - as a vehicle for
us to get some information out. We've come up against some very
racist people who manage community radio stations. Some of them
tried to deny us access by saying they don't want to carry an
aboriginal program; or they say they want to have control over
what goes to air; or they say it will cost us 5000 dollars a year
for an hour-long, weekly program.
"There have been various obstacles put in our way. But over time
we've managed to break down some of these obstacles and kick open
some of the doors of radio stations around the country, and to
allow access for more aboriginal community groups around the
country.
"At the moment there are about 105 public radio stations in the
country. Aboriginal people have access to about 25 per cent of
them, and it's growing each year.
"The National Indigenous Media Association of Australia (NIMA)
was established in May 1992. It's a national umbrella
organization with a membership of 136 community broadcasting
groups. Its long-term aim is to distribute funds to indigenous
community broadcasters throughout our country.
"The government is starting to recognize the importance of the
media - to see how aboriginal radio can work for government
agencies. As a result, we're getting some formal recognition.
We've been able to establish the national organization with some
government support to set up a secretariat.
Breaking the cycle of ignorance
"The national body is trying to promote aboriginal access into
public radio stations. It's important not only as a training
ground, but to get our information out, to break the cycle of
ignorance within mainstream society. With positive information
being projected by aboriginal people, we're going to help develop
an understanding and respect. It offers us a platform for our
artists, musicians, writers; we have a wealth of talent in our
communities."
"Radio - the medium - is a very important vehicle for indigenous
people in my country and the world over."
Brisbane Indigenous Media Association
P.O. Box 6229 Fairfield Gardens
4103 Brisbane, Australia
Tel: (+61-7) 892-5752; Fax: (+61-7) 892-1438
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:: This article is from InteRadio, Vol. 5, No.2. ::
:: InteRadio is the newsletter of AMARC, the World Association ::
:: of Community Radio Broadcasters. ::
:: 3575 St-Laurent, # 704 - Montreal, Quebec - H2X 2T7 Canada ::
:: Fax: +(514) 849-7129 - Tel: +(514) 982-0351 ::
:: Email: amarc@web.apc.org ::
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