Joint with Shadow Minister for the NDIS and Shadow Minister for Government Services, Bill Shorten MP and the Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters MP.

Vision Australia Radio has warned that it will be forced to close the majority of its services by the end of this year if the Government does not come to its aid with emergency funding.
 
Its much-loved stations offer services including reading newspapers to blind and vision-impaired people - and they have 700,000 listeners across the nation.
 
Many people rely on these broadcasts to fight social isolation, to stay informed and to stay connected with their community and the broader world. The stations are heavily reliant on the goodwill and hard work of volunteers.
 
Vision Australia is now facing financial difficulty and needs assistance from the Government to keep its essential radio services running.
 
Vision Australia has said they need $700,000 a year to maintain current operations. That is only one dollar per listener or less than 3 cents per Australian to keep it on the air.
 
The Government must consider all options to keep this long-running and vital community service from closing down.
  
Labor Members have met with Vision Australia Radio and we call on the Government to  provide funding certainty before it’s too late.
 
The Government cannot pursue a policy of radio silence for such a vital community service.
 
TUESDAY, 20 AUGUST 2019