Sample
Letter #2
The Hon John Howard
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra 2600
Dear Prime Minister
I am outraged that Australia's
own international broadcaster, Radio Australia (RA), is denied access
to the nation's major shortwave facility which is to be leased to a
foreign broadcaster.
We are told that the Minister for
Foreign Affairs will assess whether the service of a proposed lessee
of the Cox Peninsula transmitter system is contrary to Australia's national
interest. I am not convinced this will remove the risk of damage to
our national security, or to the cultural, political and religious sensitivities
of our Asian and Pacific neighbours. Above all, it is shortsighted for
Australia to forgo use of an important means for communicating with
countries in our region, and provide an overseas broadcaster with the
facility to promote foreign interests to the detriment of Australia.
Radio Australia is a cost-effective
diplomatic initiative. Its development of positive relations with the
peoples of other countries is important in foreign policy, trade and
defence. Australia's highly regarded international broadcaster has gained
respect in our region over many years. If we allow RA contact to be
lost, trust in its integrity cannot be restored quickly in times of
need.
RA is to be commended for the excellent
job it does, particularly with its limited resources. However, its audiences
in the Asia-Pacific region are now much reduced compared with those
who once listened on shortwave. And decisions about what will be broadcast
will effectively be in the hands of others if RA is forced to rely on
the communication facilities of private companies and foreign countries
to deliver its programs.
The present situation is absurd.
RA has been denied use of the Cox Peninsula transmitters since 1997.
During the present crisis in East Timor the transmitters sit idle, waiting
to be leased to a foreign broadcaster, while RA has been forced to lease
the limited time it can afford on a Taiwanese transmitter to broadcast
into Indonesia.
Lease of the Cox Peninsula transmitters
to an overseas broadcaster will be a retrograde step. It is inappropriate
that a foreign broadcaster be empowered to determine access of Australia's
own broadcaster to what is after all an Australian public facility.
By leaving RA to come to a commercial agreement with the successful
bidder (which is also a competitor), and refusing to provide funds required
to purchase that use on a commercial basis, your Government is effectively
barring RA's access to the Cox Peninsula transmitters.
I urge the Government to halt
plans to lease the Cox Peninsula facility to a foreign broadcaster.
It is in our national interest that Australia's international broadcaster
once again has unfettered use of this important means of communication,
and funds are restored to enable RA to broadcast directly to Australia's
Pacific and Asian neighbours in appropriate languages.
I request your written response
to all matters I have raised in this letter.
Yours sincerely
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