Australian Government Aims at Firm Control Over Radio Broadcasts

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26918, 2 November 1948, Page 5

Australian Government Aims at Firm Control Over Radio Broadcasts

From Cedric Mentiplay, N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 11 p.m. SYDNEY, Nov. 1. The determination of the Federal Government to establish firm control over privately owned and operated commercial radio stations as well as its own Australian Broadcasting Commission is expressed in legislation introduced in the Senate by the Postmaster-general, Senator D. Cameron. The measure, which was something of a surprise outside Ministerial circles, has been roundly condemned by the Opposition and by a large section of the press as another step towards the Labour goal of complete nationalisation, and as a blow against private enterprise and freedom of expression. The provisions of the new Bill confer upon Senator Cameron and a board of three, who are yet unnamed, wide powers of censorship ovpr broadcasts. Clauses lay down, that the board may ban any programme to which it takes objection, may prevent any political party from usingits funds to obtain widespread radio publicity on the grounds that financially weaker opponents cannot do the same, and may exercise indirect control by its power over network contracts.

The Liberals feel that the Bill is directed specifically against a series of popular political dramatisations sponsored by their party. Tolerant-minded members of the Labour caucus itself raised objections to the clause which prohibits any national or commercial station from broadcasting a dramatisation of any political matter current during the preceding five years. The present Bill is the latest move in a struggle which has been going on almost as long as commercial radio in Australia. The existing Act was strong enough to enable the Post-master-general some years ago to put a Labour station off the air without explanation. Observers believe that, were it not for section 93 of the Constitution, which is the main stumblng block to bank nationalisation plans and which lays down that the Federal Government cannot interfere with inter-State trade, the commercial stations would have been taken over long ago. The recent Government decision to limit the use of frequency modulation to the national stations has also been interpreted as a move to subjugate commercial broadcasting. “ The impartial regulation of broadcasting in the national interest is one thing,” says the Sydney Herald, “but what the Government is proposing is quite another. Senator Cameron makes it quite clear that the function of the new board would be to carry out the plans approved by the Minister. All too obviously such powers could be employed for the ruthless discrimination as well as the suppression of news and comment.” The Telegraph repeats the assertion of Mr A. W. Fadden, leader of the Country Party, that the Bill has the Goebbels touch, and that it is an elaborate means of banning rival political propaganda.