James Stevens (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Waste Reduction) Share this | Hansard source

I indeed commend my friend the member for Adelaide's contribution, particularly on channel 44. Of course, the member for Makin is in the chamber as well. We are probably going to give similar speeches about the value of the service these channels provide. I can assure the member for Adelaide that the coalition supports the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Community Television) Bill 2024.

I'll just commence by picking up on the comments from the member for Adelaide about COVID and how vitally important community television was in keeping our communities connected. I know in this debate there might be some in the more advanced tech space of the modern era of technology and digital connectivity and various platforms, particularly online through the internet and social media et cetera, that may feel that there are those kinds of digital avenues to communicate to people and broadcast to people. That has been one of the reasons why this debate has been had in the past. COVID showed us that there is a very vital role for traditional community broadcast television to keep communities connected.

The member for Adelaide made excellent points and referred to some examples. The member for Makin will probably touch on similar examples. I will use particularly an example regarding the Italian community in the eastern and north-eastern suburbs of Adelaide and the vital role that Channel 44 played in broadcasting important religious ceremonies, such as mass and vespers, through a period when unfortunately the community could not have that important attendance at mass and vespers that brings the community together. That was particularly so in the example I highlighted of some of the Italian community events that happen in my electorate and more broadly in Adelaide. It was Channel 44 that was there and available to broadcast services and also coverage of broader events through the days as they could be held, slowly but surely, as we opened up from COVID. There were obviously times, particularly for more vulnerable people, when it was not safe for them to physically go and participate because of the challenges and risks of COVID. What they did was provide access through traditional broadcast means.

Quite understandably, it's not reasonable to expect particularly elderly people to have connectivity through modern social media channels and the sorts of technology that younger people might be more comfortable with and used to using. It was great to have religious ceremonies livestreamed on certain platforms, but broadcasting is a traditional way that television reception could receive and, therefore, everyone had a variety of options. For some people, that was the only option to stay connected to those important religious services and other multicultural events happening in the community. It was very important.

COVID is the best example, but it is an ongoing requirement, particularly with an ageing population and people who find it more difficult as they get older to physically attend certain events. They can still participate in them by viewing them, by seeing the annual events that they might have attended in person for decades. They may be now in a position where they can't physically attend, particularly because of ageing and being in residential care and the like and having vulnerabilities that make it a risk to go to such events. That's where Channel 44 provides one of the great services that we should acknowledge and defend. Certainly, in the last government this was a hot issue, and I had a lot of discussions with the then minister, the member for Bradfield, about the imminent risk of the service coming to an end and the spectrum being removed from them. It was a good and important decision that Minister Fletcher made, and this bill gives even more significant security to Channel 31 and Channel 44. I respectfully leave comments about Channel 31 to my Victorian colleagues because they are in the best position to talk about the value of Channel 31, and I'm certain it is commensurate with the value of Channel 44, which is the example in Adelaide.

In Adelaide, the service that Channel 44 provides is very important. It's community led. It's volunteer led. They obviously work very hard to finance and fund the service they provide. There's a lot of volunteerism associated with what they do. And, of course, a lot of people learn great skills and get excellent early opportunities in the sector as well through people like Channel 44. I've got the South Australian Film Corporation in my electorate, and we in South Australia are very proud of our history more broadly in broadcasting, film and screen. Both the on-camera expertise and technical expertise that are needed to produce broadcast-quality product, like Channel 44 do, are also very important skills that are supported in that broader ecosystem in South Australia.

The coalition supports this bill. I reiterate my great appreciation to Channel 44 for what they do to serve the Adelaide community. They provide a vital service and, in particular, that connectivity in a more traditional way, through broadcast television of important community events, which means that people that have been disconnected in different ways, such as through COVID, are able to stay connected in a way that would not be possible without Channel 44. So thank you to them for what they do and provide. With that, I commend the bill to the House.

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