Join the campaign to support community radio going digital. The Australian federal government has backed away from a promise to allow community radio to use our nation’s digital air-waves, assigning vital national broadcasting of music, arts and culture to be switched off when the analogue system is inevitably shut down. Apparently the federal government, while slashing budget spending, have created a national shortfall of about 1 million dollars for community radio’s access to the digital realm (the total funds needed is about 3 million). Nice. Especially wonderful, given that the same government have ear-marked a whopping 500 million dollars (tax-payers money) for commercial radio’s transition to digital. Yep, it really sucks. Click the pic below to sign the petition – and keep community radio alive in Australia.

Melbourne radio stations like Triple R, PBS and 3CR are among the few stations who’ve bothered to play and support The On Fires – and thousands of other local acts over the past 2 or 3 decades. We’d hate em to go. We need em to stay. They’re part of what makes Melbourne – and Australia – a hotbed of amazing talent. Right now there’s a campaign going on. Community radio stations are NOT asking for money from us. They just want us to sign a petition to let the powers-that-be know we’re not having this bullshit. Click here to let em know!

Fires out.