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

Through the 2013-14 appropriation bills the government will provide the portfolio with $7 billion to deliver its priorities. This includes $6.8 billion directly to the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, of which $5.1 billion is an equity injection into NBN Co. It also includes $1.1 billion through the department to the ABC; $273.8 million through the department to the SBS; $111.6 million to the Australian Communications and Media Authority; and $90.4 million to the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency.

The government is providing over $178 million in new funding to the portfolio for a range of measures. This includes $50 million to the department for a range of important programs, including $26.6 million over five years to assist free-to-air television broadcasters to relocate their digital television services to new television channels; $12.9 million for expanding the Digital Enterprise and Digital Local Government programs; $2.5 million to extend the Satellite Phone Subsidy Scheme for a further year; and $5.4 million over five years to assist the production and transmission of community radio.

The federal Labor government is very proud of our support of the public broadcasters, the ABC and the SBS. They provide a vital service to the nation. As the regional development minister can I say that the role that the ABC play in regional Australia cannot be underestimated in terms of providing a service to the community, particularly at times when information on natural disasters is important to be transmitted in real time. In addition to the continuing base funding of $2.5 billion over three years, $182 million will be provided to the ABC for new measures, including a loan to assist in the construction of a purpose-built facility at Southbank in Melbourne; funding to enable the expansion of ABC news and current affairs; funds to enable it to meet growing audience demand for its digital media services; and funding to produce documentaries commemorating the Anzac Centenary.

In addition to the continuation of its base funding of $569 million over three years for SBS, $20 million will be provided to the SBS to enable it to build on the success of its digital initiatives. I note that the SBS has recently expanded some of its language services to facilitate access to some of the newer communities that have arrived in Australia in recent times. I congratulate them and the leadership that they show in the community in promoting inclusiveness as an essential element of the success of multicultural Australia.

The 2013-14 budget also provides additional funding to the ACMA. This includes $10.5 million for the high-frequency direction finding upgrade to continue support the high-frequency bands used by the aviation, maritime, defence and emergency services communities, as well as $6 million to continue its revenue assurance project.

This budget also includes a $5.1 billion equity injection to NBN Co. The budget papers reconfirm the total equity contribution to NBN Co. will be $30.4 billion. The National Broadband Network is the largest infrastructure project in our nation's history. The NBN is about transforming telecommunications and the economy by investing in the infrastructure that we need now and that we will also need for the future. This is critical infrastructure that our country needs for the 21st century.

Only this Labor government will make the smart investments that Australia needs for our future. The National Broadband Network, along with the National Plan for School Improvement, DisabilityCare Australia and the Nation Building Program are all important parts of this. Our funding announced in the 2013-14 budget for the Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy portfolio will encourage a vibrant, sustainable and internationally competitive digital economy in Australia. (Time expired)

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