20 Nov 2018

Australia's Labor to update ABC shortwave if it wins election

10:31 am on 20 November 2018

Australia's opposition Labor party says it will spend two million Australian dollars to reinstate and upgrade the ABC's shortwave service if it wins the next election.

Many remote communities in Pacific island countries rely on shortwave radio

Many remote communities in Pacific island countries rely on shortwave radio Photo: RNZI

In a controversial move early last year, the national broadcaster switched off its shortwave transmissions to remote parts of northern Australia and across the Pacific.

Labor's regional communications spokesperson Stephen Jones said the estimated cost of putting new transmitters in place was based on discussions with Broadcast Australia.

"We think that the $2 million dollars will it, based on those conversations.

"We know there's a lot of people in remote north Australia who don't get access to streaming over a mobile phone or have got unreliable broadband service," he said.

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