Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Macdonald. I do think it is a very important matter that really cannot be overemphasised. It is important to realise that the voices that we have talked about as part of this package are, namely, the four voices in regional areas as the minimum and the five voices in metropolitan areas. Remember, of course, this is a floor; it is not a target. It is very important to realise that it is quarantined to the regulated platforms of commercial radio, free-to-air commercial television and print newspapers in a defined licence area. That does not include, for instance, the Australian or the Financial Review, which are national newspapers. It certainly does not include the up to five radio stations that the ABC broadcasts. It certainly does not include SBS radio. It does not include ABC television or SBS television. And, of course, we are about to lift the genre restrictions on both the ABC and SBS, which the Labor Party supports. All of these are additional sources of diversity but, as I remarked in my earlier contribution, it is important to note that community radio has a particular place. The government recognises that. It is not included in any of these voices. It is a significant level of additional local community input, and we recognise that and I think that that will clarify your point.