Shortwave service demise has ‘no logic’

PACIFIC – Australian and Pacific island governments are being urged to pressure the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to reconsider its intention to do away with shortwave transmission in the region.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation announced last week that regional and domestic shortwave services will finish at the end of next month. It says it will put more resources into FM and internet services.

But a spokesperson for the media watchdog group, the Pacific Freedom Forum, told Radio New Zealand’s Dateline Pacific that there is no logic in a move that will deprive people of critical information, especially during cyclones and disasters.

“We especially during time of disaster lose a very reliable source which more modern technologies just can’t provide.

DATELINE PACIFIC: But the ABC says they are replacing it with more modern technology.

“And that’s great for the urban elites, as they are sometimes termed, and even when you have got nationwide FM networks which have greater reach, they quickly disappear during national disasters when we need independent information the most really.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: You want to appeal directly to the Australian government to have the ABC rethink this?

“In terms of funding I think is the big picture and not just the Australian government but Pacific governments as well. Neither the Australia government nor the Pacific governments welcome scrutiny, particularly during disasters, but it is essential.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: The critical thing during disasters is the relaying of information isn’t it?

“ Indeed and from what we are seeing on Facebook, Pacific Freedom Forum members have been sharing links on what people are talking about – and people are horrified in the Pacific, particularly outside the capitals and larger towns and small cities – they are saying that shortwave is how they stay connected with the world, because there might be internet but it is very slow or very patchy.”

DATELINE PACIFIC: It is an economic reality though, isn’t it, so your chances of having the ABC reverse this decision have to be slim to none.

“Slim to none perhaps but certainly worth fighting for. This goes back to 2006 when there was a joint review by the committees of the Senate and Parliament into aid to the Pacific, and they agreed with submissions from the Pacific that we needed greater resources for broadcasting. Now they seem to be reversing that. They recognised that then, why are the not recognising it now?

DATELINE PACIFIC: The Australian government puts hundreds of millions of dollars from its aid programme into the Pacific. Do you think maybe they should look at allocating some of that aid money, for what would not be a huge expense, relatively speaking?

“Absolutely. We are expected to operate as a fourth estate and act as a check and balance on governments and powers of the day and undue influences, but we are funded like the fortieth or sometimes even the 400th estate.”

- Dateline Pacific