Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I thank all the members who have contributed to the debate, particularly the one member who actually addressed the motion that is before the House, but I indicate and remind members that this is a debate in which there is agreement across the chamber with the government’s amended motion and that we are about to vote together in support of the amended legislation. For those listening to the debate, that might not have been as clear as it probably should be. I moved the motion that is before the House and that you all spoke on, and you are voting on the motion moved by the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in this House.

It is certainly the case that this bill has the support of the government—which, I note, has a majority of members in this House from regional Australia. More than any other political party, the government ensures that regional Australia is represented. I am pleased to support this in my capacity as regional development minister. It is certainly the case with these amendments that, whilst the government believes that one of the amendments is particularly poorly drafted, the government wants to ensure that the digital switch-over is kept on track. Hence, we are supporting the legislation.

I can understand why the coalition would want a debate about an issue on which there is agreement in the House to perhaps distract from the absolute chaos in the Senate last night over nation building and Labor’s infrastructure agenda. It is no wonder that there was an attempt today to have a distraction. The government has allowed everyone an opportunity to speak on this bill. The fact is that this bill was not gagged last night at all. Therefore, we have been able to receive the legislation back this morning. The chaos in the Senate last night over the infrastructure legislation was such that not only were the National Party and Liberal Party divided but the Liberal Party was then divided within itself, with some members going with the National Party, some leaving and some voting in accordance with what they said.

I am very pleased to commend the motion to the House. I take this opportunity to say that it is important that the last piece of legislation carried by the House for this year is about a forward-looking issue such as digital television.

Question agreed to.

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