Bishop Condemns ABC for breaching its own Charter

07/09/11

Bronwyn Bishop, Shadow Minister for Seniors, has condemned the ABC for breaching its own Charter by announcing that it will end coverage of lawn bowls from the end of this year and has called on the Board and Management of the ABC to reverse its decision to no longer televise Super Series Bowls.

“Getting rid of bowls off the ABC will mean that the ABC won’t be fulfilling its charter in relation to a very important sport in Australia. The ABC is abandoning between 200,000 and 500,000 viewers who watch bowls each week and has betrayed an important part of our community not served by any other broadcasting outlet.” Mrs Bishop said.

“The ABC has a Charter set out in section 6 of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 that states it should broadcast programs that contribute to a sense of national identity and inform and entertain, and reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community and further requires it to provide a balance between wide appeal and specialised broadcasting programs.” Mrs Bishop said.

Bronwyn Bishop and Kelly O’Dwyer, Liberal Member for Higgins, will be launching a nationwide petition to get bowls back on the ABC tomorrow at the Malvern Bowling Club in Malvern, Melbourne, at 11am. The President of Bowls Australia, Joe Aarons OAM, will be present together with Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist, Barrie Lester, and under 25 World Champion, Sam Shannahan.

Mrs Bishop commended Kelly O’Dwyer for her work on the board of Bowls Australia and for her willingness to fight this decision.

“Kelly has done a fantastic job highlighting the importance of bowls, which is one of the highest participation sports in Australia with over 800,000 people playing bowls every year. Bowling clubs are an important part of Australian communities, particularly amongst our seniors with 66% of participants in the sport over 60. Participation in bowls is an important way for hundreds of thousands of senior Australians to stay active and live healthier lives.” Mrs Bishop said.

But she also highlighted the growing numbers of younger people taking up bowls.

“Bowls is a sport played by people of all ages, and with a younger people taking up the sport in growing numbers, is a great opportunity for interaction between older and younger Australians.” Mrs Bishop said.

Mrs Bishop called on the Gillard Government to intervene.

“The Sports Minister needs to stop playing leadership games, pick up the phone to the ABC and insist that coverage of lawn bowls, which has been going for over thirty years, will continue.” Mrs Bishop said.