The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie, a vocal advocate for increased online streaming of ABC’s regional content, today welcomed the ABC’s announcement that it will stream an additional 14 regional services online and on mobile.
Senator McKenzie, who has highlighted in Senate Estimates and other forums the need for ABC to stream its regional content, said communities across Gippsland and the Goulburn Murray region could now access their local ABC radio content online and on mobile.
Gippsland and Goulburn Murray will join Alice Springs, Kalgoorlie, Broome, Bunbury, Cairns, Dubbo, Toowoomba, Karratha, Launceston, Longreach, Mt Isa and Port Pirie.
Senator McKenzie urged ABC to continue to roll-out online streaming to include all regional ABC services across Victoria.
“This is a significant step in the right direction for the ABC but it must not forget other regional communities such as Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura and Warrnambool,” Senator McKenzie said.
“In modern Australia, particularly in regional communities, our populations have become significantly more transient than they were in the past,” Senator McKenzie said.
“People now move all over the country or overseas for work, we have an explosion of fly-in/fly-out workers and many of our young people leave our regional communities for our capital cities to study or begin their careers.
“Moving for work or study shouldn’t mean you are cut off from your local community, and with the emergence of the internet we have the ability to remain connected.
“Many people now read their local paper online and I have long argued that they should also be able to listen to their local radio station online or on their mobiles. I am glad ABC is finally moving in the right direction.”
Senator McKenzie said she would continue to push the ABC to extend its streaming services to include Ballarat, Central Victoria, Mildura-Swan Hill, Shepparton, South West Victoria and Western Victoria.
“It is simply a no-brainer that these services get rolled-out for these communities,” Senator McKenzie said.
“While I am very supportive of this initial announcement, I will continue to engage with the ABC and Mark Scott to ensure that regional Victorians can access their local ABC radio station wherever they are in the world.”
Media contact: Ben Bulmer 0437 547 731 benjamin.bulmer@aph.gov.au