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

Thank you for that. I accept your admonishment, Madam Temporary Chairman. This is a very important issue—the small business organisations have been bullied and had the fix put in. Through you, Madam Temporary Chairman, Senator Boswell should understand that and not just believe these dodgy press releases.

That is what happens when it comes to this government making promises, like the promise in the cross-media laws that you would get some local content after a 12-month review. The radio networks are already telling anybody and everybody that that local content is never going to happen. The fix is in from the government—from the Liberals and the minister. These local content rules are going to get butchered. So, when the government comes to you and says, ‘We promise to fix section 46 later,’ have the gumption to stand up and make them move the amendments at the same time.

The Labor Party still has a letter signed by Mr Peter Costello, Treasurer of this country, on behalf of the government about the alienation of personal income. We have a signed letter; you have a vague promise. And let me tell you, when it came to delivering, we voted for the government’s package on the basis that we would get this commitment from the Treasurer first—a written letter. Senator Joyce understands this concept. It is a written letter from the Treasurer which was ripped up, with the Treasurer saying: ‘Sorry, guys. It’s too hard. We’re not doing it.’