Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I will not be very long. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to support the Democrat amendments. I understand the principled position Senator Bartlett has put in respect of it. In fact, I would pick up on one part and say to the government that it is not part of this amendment package. I think that is plain. It seems to be a matter that falls generally in the area but is certainly not part of the legislative package, even as amended, that this government is pursuing.

But the government did put out a discussion paper on this issue and it appears to me that the government intends to take some action in this area. It would be helpful if the government could advise as to when it intends to take some action in this area, so that we can have a look at what the government intends to bring forward in a real and concrete way. Otherwise, I will start using the language again that the government is ‘dragging its heels’ in respect of this area.

I guess in this instance it would apply to Mr Ruddock and not you, Senator Ellison, so you can at least duck that one. But I think it is important that the government addresses this area. I do not want to see four years go by, or five—as was the case of the digital agenda review—and then suddenly have a rush to bundle it in at the end together with the fair use review and those matters that had to be dealt with under the Australia-US FTA, which you have done, but that it should be dealt with in this way for the one per cent cap on licensing fees for commercial play Australia. It is an important area that should be addressed and the government should be encouraged—perhaps Minister Ellison could encourage Mr Ruddock—to address it in such a way that it comes back here in a concrete form.