Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Deputy Speaker, for your guidance. I do point out that, sadly, in Brisbane—the member for Ryan would know this—we don't have a local community broadcasting station anymore. That used to be a voice in the media landscape that was much appreciated in giving some of those non-mainstream voices a platform. That's something for community broadcasting to hopefully sort out.

Australians are a resilient mob. We are tested with bushfires, drought and, in my home state of Queensland, cyclones and devastating flooding such as occurred at the end of last year. Australians always turn to our trusted free-to-air broadcasting services during disasters for up-to-date emergency broadcasts, and we rely on the same services for information about the communities we live in—local news, local information and local sport. They also entertain us, showcasing Australian creativity with Australian stories for all ages. Can you imagine a world without Bluey and Bingo—another proud Queensland export to the world, I would point out?

The key part of the new framework is the requirement for regulated TV device manufacturers to adhere to minimum prominence requirements—if you like, having a Bluey button. The Australian Communications and Media Authority, or ACMA, will determine what constitutes a television device. Under the amendment, regulated television devices must provide access to regulated television services; automatically install and update regulated television services, present a prominent live television tile, tab or link; present a separate application, tile or tab on the home screen, ensuring that those tiles or tabs are the same size as those for other paid streaming services available on the device; and, obviously, present the television channels in a logical order.

This amendment will provide Australians with easy and uncomplicated access to trusted news, emergency, and entertainment channels. A Network Ten executive recently said she needed 45 minutes and the help of an engineer to be able to find a Channel Ten app and download it onto her new television, despite being pretty tech savvy. The executive said:

So the entire point to the prominence conversation is to remove the friction … What we're saying is the consumer should know that we're available, it's free …

The prominence requirements will not apply retrospectively to existing television sets and will not constrain device manufacturers from promoting or recommending other content and other services. They also will not affect the search or customise functions of a device. Put simply, the amendments will enhance consumer choice and give Australian free-to-air broadcasters a level playing field. This gives Australians more choice and more control as well as easier access to crucial information, which is particularly important in places like the electorate of Moreton that flood reasonably regularly.

The second part of this amendment focuses on modernising the antisiphoning scheme, an important part of the media reform agenda of the Labor government. For close to 30 years, Australians have enjoyed free-to-air broadcasts of a range of significant sporting events. A review of the scheme found that the objective remains relevant and appropriate—that is, guaranteed free access to televised coverage of events of national importance and cultural significance. Many of these have been moments of 'where were you when', such as at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 when Kieren Perkins won his second gold in the 1,500-metre freestyle final from lane 8, having actually been the slowest qualifier into the gold medal race. He only made that final by a mere 0.24 seconds, as he was a bit sick at the time. How about when Cathy Freeman won gold at the Sydney Olympics, which was recently voted Australia's great sporting moment, or when Leo Barry—I'm saying this as a Queenslander—took that mark for the Swans in the 2005 AFL grand final? I know that people still talk about the Diamonds' Caitlin Bassett having scored that clutch goal in the final seconds of double overtime when Australia beat New Zealand 58-57 in the 2011 Netball World Cup in Singapore, and I'll never forget when Johnathan Thurston, that great Australian, kicked a field goal for the Cowboys in the 82nd minute to defeat the Broncos 17-16 in 2015, which I will go on the record as saying is the best ever Rugby League grand final. These achievements have become cultural touchstones, as has Steven Bradbury's surprise skate over the line to win Australia's first Winter Olympics gold medal. I particularly mention Steven Bradbury because he trained in my electorate at Acacia Ridge. If you know my electorate, it's amazing that we produced a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

Camaraderie comes from shared experiences, such as staying up at night to watch the Wallabies, the Matildas or the Socceroos. These are the stories that we share around the water cooler at work, in the schoolyard, at the shops, or in the market square. They are the things that hold our community together. Thanks to the antisiphoning scheme, we can all watch and support our favourite athletes and teams. It gives us a language to speak. The scheme provides free access to a range of nationally important and culturally significant events, aka the list. Under this scheme, subscription television licensees—this is, pay per view—are prevented from acquiring broadcast rights unless a free-to-air provider has the rights. The Albanese government has undertaken a comprehensive review of the scheme and the list of events in collaboration with stakeholders and public consultation. This review found that the scheme's purpose is still appropriate in terms of forces that will hold this whole show together—this show called Australia—but obviously we also now need to incorporate online services.

Currently, streaming services are not part of the scheme, leaving open the risk that they could acquire the rights to iconic sporting events ahead of free-to-air broadcasters. This would limit Australian viewers' access to iconic events such as some of those I mentioned earlier. The Albanese government does not want Australian viewers to have to put their hands in their pockets to watch sports that they have traditionally viewed for free, which are paid for by advertising and all those other mechanisms. We believe that all Australians, no matter where they live or what they earn, should have a fair dinkum opportunity to watch iconic sporting events. Such infrastructure helps build community. The reforms will expand the scope of the restriction to include online services as well as subscription television broadcasting licensees.

Last year Australia co-hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup, making the Matildas a household name—and I believe they're playing in Canberra next Tuesday night—thrilling the nation and inspiring young football players, girls and also boys. I saw that at the games I went to in Brisbane. Over 6.2 million people watched Australia's semi-final against England on free-to-air television. The penalty shootout against France in the game preceding was truly an iconic moment. Luckily it was one that all Australians had the opportunity to watch.

The effect of free-to-air broadcasting of major sporting events goes beyond the enjoyment of the shared experience and the strengthening of our collective identity. It has immeasurable impact at the grassroots level, with community based sport participation benefiting, as I'm sure you know well, Deputy Speaker, as the chair of the committee looking into diabetes at the moment.

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