New SBS Hub Sends Right Signal to GWS
News that an SBS hub will be opened in Western Sydney has been welcomed as a good start by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, which has long advocated for the multi-cultural broadcaster to be relocated to the West.
The Government today announced that a TV studio, radio and podcasts booths and collaboration spaces would be opened in Western Sydney, but said a full relocation was too costly.
In 2023, the Albanese government announced it would lead a feasibility study into a possible relocation of SBS from its Artarmon headquarters to Western Sydney, alongside a multi-purpose space for content creation and public use.
Dialogue Chairman, Christopher Brown AM said while the new Western Sydney SBS studio wasn’t “the full hog”, it sent the right signal to Sydney’s multicultural heartland.
“We’ve been on this journey for a decade and are delighted to get some progress finally. It’s not the full hog, but it’s a nice start,” Mr Brown said.
“Importantly, this sends a signal to multicultural Western Sydney that they matter and that their stories matter – and that’s the right signal for the Government and the SBS board to send.
“This is not just about relocation, that was never our only driving force. This is about how we can foster creative industries in the region and, as we saw during the pandemic, how governments can better communicate with CALD communities. This is about giving a voice to these communities.”
Mr Brown acknowledged the work of Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland in securing the new SBS Western Sydney studios.
“Michelle Rowland deserves credit – this has been tough to manage, but she kept her promise and, along with ministers like Tony Bourke and Jason Clare, she has supported the work to explore opportunities,” he said.
“This is a great first step, and we’ll welcome what we’ve got, but Western Sydney’s tough and we’re not ending it here.
“One day we want to celebrate all of SBS being in the region. This is a community that really wants SBS, wants to help grow SBS and make it the voice of multicultural Australia.”
