PORT VILA -The impact of recently announced cuts to Radio Australia and other international services of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, is likely to be raised at a Pacific leaders meeting in Palau next week.
Vanuatu’s Lands Minister Ralph Regenvanu says the proposed cuts, which will see programs axed and 80 jobs lost from services to the Pacific and Asia, will affect Australia’s relations with Pacific countries.
“There is going to be a reduced presence of Australia throughout the region because Radio Australia and ABC have been like the presence of Australia throughout the communities,” he said.
Australia’s deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss will attend the 45th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau next week.
Mr Regenvanu believes a number of leaders will raise the issue with Mr Truss.
The cuts are the ABC’s response to the Australian Government’s decision in its May budget to cancel the $A223million ($F384.2m) ten-year contract for Australia Network Television, amounting to a 60 per cent cut to funding for the ABC’s International services.
The proposed changes announced last week will see the ABC keep a 6-hour television service for the Pacific, to be called Australia Plus and its existing Australia Plus online and mobile services.
