22 November 1999

ABA decides not to allocate licence in Narrabri

The Australian Broadcasting Authority has decided not to allocate a community radio broadcasting licence in Narrabri at this time.

The ABA sought applications for the licence in April 1999. There were two applicants, Narrabri Shire Community Radio Inc and Kaputar FM Community Radio Inc. Both applicants stated that they represented the general community of Narrabri.

"The ABA decided not to allocate the licence because of its concerns about the ability of both applicants to provide a service that will meet the needs of the general community of Narrabri," said ABA Chairman Professor David Flint.

"In particular, the ABA is concerned about the open hostility that exists between the two applicants, and the effect that this hostility will have on the ability of either applicant to adequately meet the existing and perceived future needs of the Narrabri community," he said.

"The ABA has given careful consideration to the information provided by both applicants, as well as by other people in the Narrabri community," said Professor Flint. "In making its decision it weighed the applications against the needs and interests of the community and the extent to which the proposed services would meet those needs and interests. The ABA also considered the applicants’ capacity to provide their proposed services and the nature and diversity of other broadcasting services in the area."

"The ABA encouraged the two applicants to merge, or come to some cooperative arrangement that would enable both groups to continue to provide programs to the Narrabri community, however, no such agreement could be reached," he said.

"The ABA will readvertise the licence in 12 months time. The ABA hopes that the problems that presently exist will be resolved by the Narrabri community within that time," said Professor Flint.

Both groups will be able to continue to provide broadcasts under temporary community broadcast licences, sharing the one frequency still available in the area for this purpose.

Backgrounder

Narrabri Region

Narrabri is located in the Namoi Valley in New South Wales, approximately 570 kilometres north of Sydney. It is one of the North West NSW region’s major administrative centres.

The Narrabri area is currently served by ABC and SBS television in addition to three commercial television services. Radio services include the ABC services 2ABCFM, 2ABCRN and 2JJJ, and commercial radio services 2MO, 2GGG, 2VM and 2NOW.

In the radio licence area plan for the Narrabri region, released in July 1998, the ABA determined that one new community FM radio broadcasting service be made available in Narrabri.

Community licence allocation

Part 6 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act), provides for the allocation of community broadcasting licences.

The ABA uses a merit based allocation process where applicants compete on the basis of merit for the licence. The process includes opportunity for the public to comment on applications received.

The ABA must also have regard to:

(a) the extent to which the proposed service would meet the existing and perceived future needs of the community within the licence area of the proposed service; and

(b) the nature and diversity of the interests of that community; and

(c) the nature and diversity of other broadcasting services (including national broadcasting services) available within that licence area; and

(d) the capacity of the applicant to provide the proposed service; and

(e) the undesirability of one person being in a position to exercise control of more than one community broadcasting licence that is a broadcasting services bands licence in the same licence area; and

(f) the undesirability of the Commonwealth, a State or Territory or a political party being in a position to exercise control of a community broadcasting licence.

Under section 85 of the Act, the ABA is not required to allocate a community broadcasting licence to any applicant.

The Minister may also give directions to the ABA to give priority to a particular community interest or interests.

What we do l What's new l Search l Publications l Contact us l Home