Kylea Tink hits out at Albanese government over study to relocate SBS from Artarmon

Contentious plans to move SBS from the north shore to Sydney’s western suburbs has sparked a war of words with claims the move is “political” and a waste of federal government funds.

North Sydney independent MP Kylea Tink has hit out against Anthony Albanese after he pledged his support to relocate the nation’s multicultural broadcaster from the north shore to Sydney’s western suburbs.

Budget papers released on Tuesday show the federal government will spend $1 million on a feasibility study to relocate SBS from its long-term home in Artarmon to a new facility in the city’s west.

The Prime Minister said the relocation of SBS would be a cultural investment in the fast growing and multicultural western Sydney community.

But Ms Tink said the closure of the Artarmon studios would cost the region 900 jobs and have a major impact for local businesses it supports.

“The Prime Minister has jumped the gun with this position,” she said. “It’s left us all questioning whether the government’s commitment to a feasibility study was just a hollow promise as it appears to have been a foregone conclusion.

Kylea Tink has opposed relocating the studio.

“Artarmon has been home to SBS for over 30 years. Not only is it an important employer locally, but it also reflects a significant part of our community, representing the diversity that makes North Sydney a great place to live.

“SBS have a purpose built facility that they own and suits their needs and I don’t think there’s any justification for it to move.”

A photo of SBS identity Adam Liaw and communications Minister Michelle Rowland visiting the studio.

The $1 million study will examine a business case for the relocation and establish a bidding process between local government areas to choose an “optimal site” for the new studios.

Ms Tink questioned whether the move was politically motivated as well as the final cost of relocating at a time when the budget was under considerable financial constraint.

“We saw the PM in the lead up to the election saying the days of pork barrelling are over and I would certainly hope the relocation to western Sydney isn’t just the next generation of pork barrelling,” she said.

“The hundreds of millions of dollars required to enable the move would deliver much better taxpayer value for money if directed towards increased production of Australian content,” she said.

“It makes no sense to uproot a broadcaster purely to place it in another part of Sydney at huge expense. This would be a devastating loss for our community.

A Department of Communications spokeswoman did not respond to questions over the full cost of relocating the broadcaster.

In a statement, a spokeswoman said the feasibility study was being developed in collaboration with the SBS and was in the “early design stages”.

“The feasibility study will examine the business case, benefits, and risks of relocating, assess the benefits of providing a co-located multipurpose space for content creation and public use, and incorporate a competitive bidding process between local government areas to choose an optimal relocation site,” she said.

Kylea Tink, pictured during a recent visit to SBS Artarmon

“More information about the feasibility study, its timing and the mechanisms for engaging with stakeholders will be announced in due course.”

In western Sydney, the proposed relocation has already sparked a bidding war between councils with Canterbury-Bankstown and Parramatta hoping to attract the broadcaster to the local government areas.

Back on the north shore and Willoughby Council is campaigning against the move, writing to the federal government and the board of SBS to advocate for the studio to remain put.

Ms Tink rejected suggestions the north shore doesn’t reflect Australia’s cultural diversity – pointing to census figures that show 44 per cent of people in the federal electorate were born overseas and 35 per cent speak a language other than English at home.

“The reality is our community is very vibrant and diverse and if what’s driving this is a perception that there’s a lack of multiculturalism in our community that is completely unfair,” she said.

“I invite the Prime Minister and the Communications Minister to visit North Sydney and see for themselves the value our multicultural community delivers.”

Artarmon has been home to SBS since 1992 and is supported by ancillary services including media, IT, production, and communications which provide employment locally.