Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—In respect of the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Bill 2017, I move Australian Greens amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 8265, as revised, together:

(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table item 16), omit "Schedule 7", substitute "Schedules 7 and 8".

(2) Page 54 (after line 6), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 8—Tabling of public broadcasting reviews

Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983

1 After section 78

Insert:

78A Terms of reference of proposed reviews of the Corporation to be tabled and subject to disallowance

(1) If the Minister prepares terms of reference (however described) for a proposed review of the Corporation (the proposed review), the Minister must arrange for a copy of the terms of reference to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament at least 15 sitting days before the commencement of the proposed review.

(2) Sections 42, 47 and 48 of the Legislation Act 2003 apply in relation to the terms of reference as if those terms were a legislative instrument.

(3) The proposed review must not be conducted if:

(a) the terms of reference for the proposed review have not been tabled in accordance with this section; or

(b) the terms of reference for the proposed review have been tabled but have been disallowed.

78B Reports of reviews of the Corporation to be tabled

(1) If the Minister conducts a review of the Corporation, the Minister must arrange for a copy of the review to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament within 15 sitting days of the completion of the review.

(2) If the Minister, or another person or body, causes a review of the Corporation to be conducted:

(a) the Minister, person or body must arrange for a copy of the review to be provided to the Minister; and

(b) the Minister must arrange for a copy of the review to be tabled in both House of Parliament within 15 sitting days of receiving the copy of the review.

Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991

2 After section 73

Insert:

73A Terms of reference of proposed review of SBS to be tabled and subject to disallowance

(1) If the Minister prepares terms of reference (however described) for a proposed review of the SBS (the proposed review), the Minister must arrange for a copy of the terms of reference to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament at least 15 sitting days before the commencement of the proposed review.

(2) Sections 42, 47 and 48 of the Legislation Act 2003 apply in relation to the terms of reference as if those terms were a legislative instrument.

(3) The proposed review must not be conducted if:

(a) the terms of reference for the proposed review have not been tabled in accordance with this section; or

(b) the terms of reference for the proposed review have been tabled but have been disallowed.

73B Reports of reviews of the SBS to be tabled

(1) If the Minister conducts a review of the SBS, the Minister must arrange for a copy of the review to be tabled in both Houses of Parliament within 15 sitting days of the completion of the review.

(2) If the Minister, or another person or body, causes a review of the SBS to be conducted:

(a) the Minister, person or body must arrange for a copy of the review to be provided to the Minister; and

(b) the Minister must arrange for a copy of the review to be tabled in both House of Parliament within 15 sitting days of receiving the copy of the review.

These amendments relate to the ability of the government to commission inquiries and reviews into the public broadcasters, whether that is the ABC or the SBS. The reason why this is absolutely important is because this parliament should have the power to decide whether or not reviews are something that the parliament supports.

Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—

Chair, perhaps you could call—I don't care if you're listening or not, Senator O'Sullivan, but you could bugger off if you're not interested.