I saw the Coalition policy on Community radio, and Sen. Helen Coonan's press release that recognised the community broadcasting sector as unique in the broadcasting industry for its diversity, independence and commitment to providing the community with a platform for expressing views and ideas. She went on to say that "this Government has demonstrated its commitment to community broadcasting and worked hard over the last eight years to support the sector and make it more sustainable."

Thus I wanted to say again that we would welcome Senator Kemps appearance on ARTS alive. Our audience of perhaps 150,000 listeners is mainly rural, regional and outer-suburban and many would be acutely interested to have thoughts and opinions from the Minister to set against those of previous guests. I'm sure that you would agree that we have a duty to provide a diversity of opinion on arts and cultural policy in the context of the election campaign and that Minister Kemp is by far the best person to represent the Coalition's policy position.

As I mentioned in an earlier e-mail, the program is pre-recorded and goes to the CBAA satellite service on Monday afternoon, but many station replay it over the following seven days. Thus the program of next Monday is the last that will be heard by our Australia-wide audience before polling day on 9 October.

Normally the program is compiled on a Saturday afternoon, but I understand that the Minister will be on Peter Clarke's program on ABC Melbourne next Sunday, so we could postpone the compile until Sunday to ensure that the Minister could appear. If there is half an hour before then to record a conversation, that would be even better.

Could you let me know as soon as possible so that we can arrange our schedules to allow this to happen.

Yours sincerely

Vincent O'Donnell
EP ARTS alive


Sent 29 September 2004. No reply received as at 10am, 4 October 2004.