Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party, Minister for Workforce Participation) Share this | Hansard source

The member for Lowe raises some very important and in fact key issues that the government is very conscious of and aims to address in a very comprehensive way. Of course, the government has committed to reforming Australia’s media ownership laws while protecting the public interest in a diverse and vibrant media sector. The discussion paper that the minister has released outlines proposals to reform media ownership laws as part of a broader reform package relating to new digital services and other key broadcasting issues. She is currently considering submissions on this discussion paper.

The minister has proposed the removal of current cross-media and foreign ownership rules, with diversity protected by a floor under the number of media groups permitted in a market to prevent undue concentration of ownership. This floor of four voices in regional markets and five in mainland state capitals seeks to find a balance between establishing too high a threshold that would prevent any mergers taking place and ensuring protection for a minimum number of voices and media outlets. This floor would not include national daily and out-of-area newspapers, the ABC, SBS, pay TV, the internet and other potential new services over other platforms, which would all continue to supplement the commercial platforms to deliver a wide range of information, entertainment and opinion.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority would have the power to grant an exemption certificate where a cross-media transaction did not breach the floor. The Trade Practices Act 1974 would continue to apply to media transactions and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would play a critical role in assessing competition issues associated with mergers. I can assure the member for Lowe that this is a critical issue for government and in fact to the nation as a whole. The government’s policy has not been finalised. The member for Lowe should continue to pay very close attention to this issue. I am sure he has already put in a submission or he may still be in the process of putting in a submission to this inquiry. I have every confidence that the minister will take his views on board.

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