Radio Australia’s shortwave signal to Asia will cease this weekend, another result the ABC says of recent government funding cuts.
On the 20th of December, Radio Australia had the opportunity to celebrate its 75th anniversary of shortwave broadcasting to the world.
But there was no announcement, no party, and some of us only heard about it at the via a former colleague, on Twitter.
Shortwave broadcasting to the Pacific will continue, but from what we understand there may be some degradation to the service outside of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji.
It’s a big step back from international broadcasting by Australia, and its ‘soft power’ and ‘hard information’ contribution to the world.
Alex Oliver of the Lowy Institute has contributed evidence and information to Australian parliamentary inquiries and committees on foreign affairs, defence and trade for many years.
Adam Connors asks if this is another erosion of Australia’s projection to our neighbours? Or just the retirement of some old technology.
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