Dana Wortley (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Has the minister seen the submission by Rupert Murdoch’s News Limited on her media reform discussion paper? Is the minister aware that News Limited has described her plan as a selective and discriminatory approach to deregulation which entrenches protection for free-to-air television broadcasters and deprives consumers of choice? Does the minister accept News Limited’s claim that her plan favours free-to-air broadcasters at the expense of consumers? In view of these comments, is the government now prepared to consider News Limited’s call for the allocation of new free-to-air television licences?