SBS SUBMISSION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COVID-19 INQUIRY INTO GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC JUNE 2020 Key Points

• In 2020, SBS television will mark 40 years of broadcasts and SBS Radio will mark 45 years. SBS has a long legacy of ensuring that news and information is available to ’s multicultural and multilingual communities, and these services are more relevant now than ever before.

• Reaching all Australians with vital public health information has been essential to saving lives during the COVID-19 crisis. SBS has a unique ability to reach Australia’s many language communities through its multiplatform services in English and in more than 60 other languages.

• In less than a week, the SBS Radio team developed and launched the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus Portal in 63 languages—to curate all COVID-19 content in one, easily shareable destination www.sbs.com.au/coronavirus.

• SBS and NITV have been breaking into regular TV programming on a daily basis to cover developments on the pandemic including live briefings from the Prime Minister and Chief Medical Officer and other ministers and health officials. These events have also been covered on SBS’s digital platforms and social media.

• During the COVID-19 crisis NITV’s news and current affairs coverage has been expanded to provide a daily news service, seven days a week, delivering accurate and up-to-date information. NITV and partners also commissioned a special Little J and Big Cuz handwashing song targeted at young people, particularly First Nations children.

• SBS television and digital news services provide daily comprehensive coverage on the impact of the crisis across the globe—including numerous live crosses to countries most heavily impacted by the virus—particularly focussing on the home territories of many of our largest migrant communities.

• SBS current affairs programming has also explored the effects of the virus, and related impacts, on communities in Australia and abroad.

• SBS has seen significant increases in audiences across its radio and online audio services, television news and On Demand services, particularly during the peak of the crisis in April this year. This demonstrates the need for, and the value placed on, SBS services by Australian audiences.

• SBS will also be essential to Australia’s recovery after the crisis—including by continuing to ensure that its editorial content responds to change during the next stages of recovery; promoting social cohesion among our many communities, supporting economic and cultural participation for non-English speakers, and by fostering Australia’s multilingual capacity.

Introduction The Special Broadcasting Service Corporation (SBS) appreciates the opportunity to submit to the Select Committee on COVID-19 on its Inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As set out below, SBS has provided critical health information and news during the crisis to all Australians, including Australia’s many multilingual communities. SBS will also be essential to Australia’s recovery after the crisis—including by promoting social cohesion among our many communities, supporting economic and cultural participation for non-English speakers, and by fostering Australia’s multilingual capacity, which will be a national asset as Australia reinvigorates international trade after the crisis. SBS provided critical information during the crisis The SBS Charter, contained in Section 6 of the Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991, states that ‘[t]he principal function of the SBS is to provide multilingual and multicultural broadcasting and digital media services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia’s multicultural society.’1 Reaching all Australians with vital public health information has been essential to saving lives during the COVID-19 crisis. SBS has a unique ability to reach Australia’s many language communities through its multiplatform services in English as well as more than 60 other languages. In its initial stages, SBS coverage focussed on the needs of the Chinese and Italian communities in Australia—with extensive information provided through SBS’s language services. As the virus affected an increasing number of countries and communities, SBS’s coverage was expanded to ensure that accurate news and information was provided in 63 languages. Additionally, as restrictions on movement and gatherings tightened within Australia, SBS recognised the increasing need for entertaining audiences. SBS’s On Demand service continued to be popular—a good example was our Eurovision Week suite of programming,2 which was delivered via broadcast television and through SBS On Demand, and provided fans with a unique opportunity to celebrate music and culture, at a time when live international events were not possible. SBS has seen significant increases in audiences across its radio and online audio services, television news and On Demand services, particularly during the peak of the crisis in April this year. This demonstrates the need for, and the value placed on, SBS services by Australian audiences.

1 https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/sbs-charter 2 https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/eurovision-week-2020-on-sbs

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SBS Radio SBS Radio ( https://www.sbs.com.au/radio/) broadcasts in 63 languages across broadcast and digital platforms, providing news and information about Australian and international affairs. A list of SBS languages is at Attachment A. In addition to news, SBS Radio’s multilingual coverage of the COVID-19 crisis includes fact sheets, quizzes, explainer articles (eg ‘What is the difference between the flu and COVID-19?’ and ‘What is the 2-person rule?’), and infographics to promote the ‘stay home’ messaging, dispel myths and deepen community understanding. SBS is committed to being the trusted destination for LOTE Australians to understand how conditions are changing in their state or territory. As changes are announced daily, SBS is the only organisation capturing those changes in LOTE in one easy to read fact sheet via sbs.com.au/coronavirus. SBS Radio services are also providing language other than English (LOTE) audiences direct access to health experts via talkback and bringing some comfort to the crisis by encouraging audiences to share moments of joy, stories about acts of kindness and tips for staying connected with family and friends.

Examples of infographics developed for SBS’s in-language audiences during the crises are set out at Attachment B.

SBS Multilingual Coronavirus Portal In less than a week, the SBS Radio team developed and launched the SBS Multilingual Coronavirus Portal in 63 languages—to curate all COVID-19 content in one, easily shareable destination www.sbs.com.au/coronavirus. This portal has received very positive feedback from community and government stakeholders, and has been shared widely. The portal has been promoted by a number of official government channels, including the Australian Government COVID-19 app; www.australia.gov.au; Department of Home Affairs website; and, the COVID-19 WhatsApp channel. The ABC has also promoted SBS's portal. Reaching communities, the portal was additionally promoted by organisations including the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, Australian Human Rights Commission, National Ethnic Disability Alliance, Refugee Health Networks and Settlement Services International. Each week, a direct email (eDM) is distributed to SBS’s community and stakeholder database, providing new LOTE assets for downloading or sharing with their networks. SBS’s work in serving its audiences and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and specifically the coronavirus portal, was noted in a motion moved by Senator Stirling Griff on 14 May 2020.3 Videos promoting health and safety messages In response to a request from the Australian Government Department of Health, SBS created videos in 31 languages in 10 days to promote key health and safety messages. A total of 59 videos have now been produced, with more than 600,000 views.4 The videos were shared by the Department of Health YouTube pages, and have been amalgamated

3 https://stirling.centrealliance.org.au/senate/motions/sbs-multilingual-portal/ 4 https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/coronavirus-explained-in-your-language

Page 3 of 11 into on-channel promotions, are prominent on SBS On Demand, and have been shared with thousands of community stakeholders. Consumption statistics indicate that these videos have been widely shared in both larger and smaller communities within Australia, and overseas.5 National Indigenous Television (NITV) During the COVID-19 crisis NITV’s news and current affairs coverage has been expanded to provide a daily news service, seven days a week, delivering accurate and up-to-date information, including regular updates from all State, Territory and remote health services about impacts to communities. In addition, NITV’s current affairs programs, The Point and , have been covering COVID-19 in depth and providing essential expert information from epidemiologists, mental health providers, GPs and the COVID-19 Indigenous Advisory Council, as well as giving a voice to remote communities and Elders, who are particularly at risk during this crisis. Information and news relevant to First Nations communities is also available in SBS’s multilingual coronavirus portal. The information can be found in the portal under the NITV Radio tab. NITV also has a webpage with the latest information on COVID-19 and how it impacts Australia’s Indigenous communities.6 NITV is providing a feed of audio elements (English language, with transcripts), specifically focused on COVID-19 directly to First Nations media groups, allowing regional and remote Indigenous news services to download and translate the elements into the First Nations languages they support. NITV News is also delivering daily updates, full news bulletins, and interviews by request to the First Nations Media Association for distribution through Indigenous news services across the country. In collaboration with organisations including the Tiwi Land Council, North Coast Primary Health Network NSW, and Danila Dilba Health Service, NITV has promoted community service announcements regarding the pandemic. The Kimberley Coronavirus Animation is also being broadcast on NITV.7 NITV and partners commissioned a special Little J and Big Cuz handwashing song targeted at young people, particularly First Nations children.8 Starring the voice of Miranda Tapsell, this delightful animation encourages children to practice the protective hygiene and distancing measures recommended by experts. Please see Attachment C. NITV also developed and shared Old Style, COVID Style, a humorous clip featuring Norm Smith winner Andrew McLeod; two-time Brownlow medallist and Australian of the Year Adam Goodes and renowned rapper Briggs. The clip, airing on NITV’s Yokayi Footy and AFL Media, encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and football fans around the nation, to remain vigilant during the COVID-19 pandemic.9

5 Video consumption statistics show that the following language videos have been the most popular: Arabic, Vietnamese, Dinka, Persian, Cantonese, Filipino, Tamil, Nepali, Portuguese and Punjabi. 6 https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/covid19 7 https://www.artshub.com.au/news-article/features/covid-19/sabine-brix/the-coronavirus-animation- making-an-impact-in-the-kimberley-260460 8 https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1719840835794/little-j-has-an-important-message-for-you- jarjums-about-washing-your-hands 9 https://www.afl.com.au/news/440258/afl-statement-on-old-style-covid-style-and-glittering-first- nations-line-up

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News and Current Affairs Never has SBS’s truly global perspective on news been more important than during the COVID-19 crisis. SBS provides daily comprehensive coverage on the impact of the crisis across the globe—including numerous live crosses to countries most heavily impacted by the virus—particularly focussing on the homelands of many of our largest migrant communities. SBS World News also covered the local community reaction to the situation in those countries with the highest rates of infection and the concern for family and friends, SBS’s current affairs coverage has also included in-depth analysis of the effects of COVID-19. For example, special Dateline reports over the past few months have covered the situation in Italy, Spain and France and the plight of the homeless in Los Angeles during the pandemic while Insight has done several programs looking at the challenges of isolation during COVID-19. SBS News also facilitated live coverage of Government briefings on the pandemic on both SBS and NITV.

SBS will be essential to Australia’s economic recovery and ongoing cohesion SBS provided a rapid editorial response to evolutions in the health crisis, including by consulting with government on vital health information. As the spread of the pandemic slows, and restrictions in Australia continue to ease, SBS will remain the go-to destination for multilingual communities to access essential in-language information. For example, see an indication at Attachment D of the breadth of language coverage of the Prime Minister’s announcement of Australia’s three step plan to ease restrictions. As a further example, SBS has worked closely with the Government to translate materials for businesses to support reopening in a COVIDsafe manner. These have been distributed via SBS communications with audiences (See Attachment E for some examples). SBS will continue to be responsive to change in the next stages of recovery and will work with all levels of government to ensure that vital information is shared in-language. This will be of importance to both new migrants, as well as established multicultural communities. SBS services will continue to provide essential services to multicultural Australia to help drive Australia's economic recovery, including by fostering multilingualism. As reported by the World Economic Forum, speaking more than one language can boost economic growth, including because speaking multiple languages can help build trade relations.10 SBS will also continue to assist migrants and all LOTE-speakers in Australia feel at home, supporting civic participation and social cohesion, with positive outcomes for economic participation, and mitigating risks to inclusion such as racism. Economic participation for Australians who speak a language other than English is equally critical—SBS language services enable this by providing news and information on issues including business matters, taxation, property and related government policies and initiatives. The Small Business Secrets television program also explores the challenges and triumphs of small business owners throughout Australia, with a focus on migrant and Indigenous-owned small businesses. SBS services enable and support small businesses throughout Australia—with research showing that around a third of

10 https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/speaking-more-languages-boost-economic-growth/

Page 5 of 11 small businesses in Australia are owned by migrants.11 Small businesses will be the backbone of Australia’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. The Economic Benefits of Improving Social Inclusion, by Deloitte Access Economics was commissioned by SBS and published in August 2019. For the first time in this way, it quantified the potential lift to Australia’s economy that could be driven by improved employment and health outcomes, increased workplace productivity, and reduced costs of social services, as a result of greater social inclusion. It shows that improved social inclusion could mean quantifiable economic benefits to Australia of $12.7 billion per annum.12 SBS’s purpose is to ‘inspire all Australians to explore, respect and celebrate our diverse world and in doing so, contributes to a cohesive society’. This will be ever more important as Australia, and , recover economically, and socially, from the COVID-19 pandemic.

11 https://www.titanmigration.com.au/news/2018/5/25/research-shows-migrants-own-33-of-all-small- businesses-in-australia 12 The Economic Benefits of Improving Social Inclusion, August 2019 – available at https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/economic-benefits-improving-social- inclusion.html

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Attachment A SBS languages

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Attachment B Examples of SBS COVID-19 in-language infographics

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Attachment C Still from animated Little J & Big Cuz handwashing song

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Attachment D Multilingual coverage of Australia’s three stop plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions

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Attachment E Information for businesses to support operating in a COVIDsafe manner

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