Unilateral Declaration of Radio 3CR

A,  That consistent with

(i)  its general  policy,

(ii) its anti-racist  policy,

(iii) its policy that Zionism is a form of racism,

(iv) its policy to exclude Zionist organizations and viewpoints from membership or 3CR's  programming,

(v) PBAA  policies  which it  supports, and

(vi) its determination to continue to broadcast Palestinian and anti-Zionist viewpoints through programs such as ‘Palestine Speaks’, 'Palestine Voice' and  JAZA', and without prejudice to the above, the CRF makes the following statement of principles:

1.         Community Radio Federation Limited (CRF) as a member the Public Broadcasting Association of Australia (PBAA) strongly supports the concept of self-regulation within broadcasting and holds that licenses should be assessed on the degree to which they have met their Promise of Performance and the PBAA’s Code of Ethics at the time of the license renewal rather than have arbitrary standards imposed and enforced by Government regulatory bodies. 

2.         CRF, along with all broadcasting and publishers, has the right to decide its own editorial standards and to exclude from its programming any viewpoint which it considers contrary to the station's broadcasting guidelines. 

3.         CRF has no obligation to admit to its membership or to its broadcast facilities any person or organization.  At any time community organizations may apply to the CRF for affiliation and such applications are always considered by the CRF on their merits and on the terms of the station's policies and guidelines.  This applies to Paths to Peace and did apply to their former application and would continue to apply to any future applications. 

4.         CRF has developed a body of internal program guidelines which serve to ensure that its Articles of Association and Promise of Performance are not infringed.  As further clarification of these standards by which 3CR assesses the suitability of broadcast material the following clause will be incorporated into the station's broadcasting guidelines. 

Material will not be broadcast which is: 

(A) threatening, abusive, or insulting and promotes hatred against or hostility towards   groups of  persons distinguished by their sex, race, religion, color or ethnic or national origins, or 

(B) brings into contempt or ridicule groups of  persons distinguished by their sex, race, religion, color or ethnic or national origins. 

5.         The CRF will raise at the PBAA Annual General Meeting the following clause for incorporation into that body's Code of  Ethics :

'Broadcasters should adopt a policy for programming which opposes and breaks down prejudice on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic background, sex or religion.' 

6.         Notwithstanding paragraphs 2 and 3 above, the station's broadcasting guidelines allow the opportunity for a person or an organization to apply to the Management Committee for the Right of Reply to broadcast material which maligns or misrepresents that person or organization or a section of the community which that person or organization substantially represents. 

Such 'Right of Reply' is granted to make factual rebuttals to specific grievances (which must be set out in the complainant's application) related to that person or organization or a section of the community which that person or organization substantially represents. 

Such 'Right of Reply' and the form it takes is entirely at 3CR's own discretion.  It will be given in good faith, to people who apply in good faith. 

7.         CRF will incorporate clauses 4 and 6 into its self-regulatory machinery namely the station's broadcasting guidelines and will actively observe them. 

8.         CRF endorses the resolution of the PBAA which urges all broadcasters to avoid material which creates unnecessary or gratuitous offence. 

B.         This is a unilateral declaration by 3CR,  3CR will abide by any lawful directions from the Tribunal, but it will not voluntarily enter into any agreements, or give any undertakings, to the Board of Deputies, the Tribunal or any other outside body, since this would not be self-regulation.