Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Does the minister recall trying to use Channel 7’s decision not to show the Bledisloe Cup rugby union live across Australia as justification for overhauling the antisiphoning list? Has the minister seen comments by Seven CEO, Mr David Leckie, that:

Seven broadcast coverage in every market—including live coverage in Sydney and Brisbane. The match was also available on pay television in every state. It is the perfect example of how the current anti-siphoning regime actually works.

Can the minister explain what was objectionable about Channel 7’s conduct? Wouldn’t a decision to take the Wallabies matches off the antisiphoning list mean that people who currently watch rugby union for free would have to pay for it? Why should anyone relying on free-to-air television for sport have any confidence in a minister who clearly does not understand how the antisiphoning regime—which she is supposed to be responsible for—actually works?