The DFAT letter

On 1 July 2011, the Vietnam Swans wrote to the Minister for Communications, Stephen Conroy, on behalf of 26 Asian footy clubs about the proposal to restrict the amount of AFL coverage on Australia Network. (See Asian footy clubs make submission re AFL on Australia Network.) Today, a representative of the Department of Foreign Affairs replied to the National President of the Vietnam Swans, Phil Johns.

Dear Mr Johns

Thank you for your email dated 1 July 2011 concerning the future of sports broadcasting on the Australia Network Service. The Minister has asked me to reply on his behalf.

Thank you for your interest in the Australia Network and for taking the time to write to the Minister to communicate your concerns. Australia Network is an important part of our public diplomacy activities overseas, informing international audiences about Australia and its role in the world. The Commonwealth has provided public funding for an overseas broadcasting network since 1993, with the objective of promoting Australia’s foreign and trade policy objectives, providing an independent perspective into the region, and projecting contemporary Australia.

As you are aware, the Government has decided to put the Australia Network contract out for a new ten year tender.

I would like to reassure you that sport will continue to be aired as part of the programming schedule under the new Australia Network contract. This will remain an important element of projecting Australia overseas.

The aim of the new contract is not to limit sport in general but to ensure better balanced programming overall. The Australia Network provider selected to provide the service for the next ten year period will be responsible for determining the sport programming for the Australia Network, including coverage of AFL or other Australian football codes, within the broad programming parameters agreed between the services provider and the Government. Those parameters will not require that coverage of AFL in particular or any other Australian football code must be restricted but will ensure that sports coverage is balanced with other programming priorities, such as news, current affairs, business, documentaries, educational, children’s programming and drama.

I encourage you to write to the new provider, once selected, to indicate your strong interest in continued Australia Network coverage of AFL.

Kind regards

Margaret Adamson
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian Government

Original letter can be viewed as a pdf file: DFAT response re AFL football on Australia Network