Shortwave cuts could cost lives

Again, I say "utter rubbish!'

During a hypothetical local disaster with thousands of villagers distraught and shocked, which leader or controller is going to be able to manage command and control communication better – the one equipped with a shiny new loudhailer, flat batteries and no access to electric power, or the one using a purely acoustic megaphone and shouting loudly?

Why should the new be deemed superior to the old?

Thanks to the careful diligence of Graeme Dobell, a journalist for forty five years and reporting on Australian and international politics, foreign affairs and defence and the Asia Pacific since 1975,there are well-reasoned proposals afoot in his submission to create an entirely new broadcasting organisation designed specifically for world-wide reception, the Australian International Broadcasting Corporation.

This A.I.B.C. would be a novel chartered structure and would not supplant our existing Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which continues its existing as well as newly-emerging local and national Australian platforms.

Instead, the proposed AIBC would undertake a completely fresh broadcasting totality for our international neighbours, embracing news, creative programming, the delicate diplomatic role of presenting foreign policy detail and political reportage yet remaining editorially independent and functioning with unbiased neutrality, much as the greatly-lauded BBC World Service.

Its style of technology and engineering management could resemble that currently employed by the ABC, but more importantly it would be there as an emergency disaster management resource, much as the ABC already is within Australia.

One of our immediate neighbours, Vanuatu, is most concerned at the possible loss of advantages and benefits to its society. That nation's Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, recently called on the Australian government to reinstate Radio Australia's shortwave service in the Pacific. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation ceased shortwave broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific region in January 2017 ahead of a transition to FM transmission.

In his submission to the current government inquiry into the ABC's decision to cut the service, Mr. Salwai, said that removing shortwave radio to Vanuatu could cost lives, and part of his proposition stated:

In times of crisis when other forms of media like FM and digital services are unavailable, remote communities rely on broadcasts safely transmitted from outside the disaster zone.

This is exactly the role Radio Australia shortwave broadcasts played during Cyclone Pam.

For us, shortwave is not out-dated technology – it is appropriate and 'fit for purpose', and an important means to inform and safeguard Ni-Vanutu people.

Thus it will be extremely interesting to see just what happens in both a policy and commonsense aspect following the outcomes of the government review into broadcast services in the Asia Pacific.

That review is being conducted jointly by the Department of Communications and the Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and submissions have just closed

It is assessing the reach of Australia's media in the Asia-Pacific region, including examining whether shortwave radio technology should be used. All media distribution platforms-television, radio and online-are being examined including commercial, community and publicly funded services.

The review is also looking at different types of technologies such as analogue, digital and satellite radio and television services and online services.

We have accumulated a great deal of organisational and technical skills over our many years of operating Radio Australia. To me, this proposal for the creation of the AIBC re-inforces my innate opinion that it is ever-important for our kookaburra's voice to always call to the world – loudly and clearly.