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

Thank you to Senator Wortley for the question. In answer to the last part of her question, my understanding is that it will most certainly be in place before the next screening of Big Brother. As Senator Wortley may be aware, the government, well prior to the particular incident to which she alludes, had the authority, ACMA, conduct an inquiry into the extent to which live and streamed content over the internet was able to be regulated.

In fact, the review had identified some bases upon which the legislation could be strengthened—indeed, strengthened more broadly than just over the internet, but also over mobile telephones, particularly in relation to triple play. Clearly, in the circumstances, it is very important that the government be in a position where it can have the best possible legislation to deal with all possible ways in which the internet is evolving, without in any way impeding the freedom of the internet. We want to make sure that content on the net is appropriate and can only be accessed in appropriate ways.

So we have had this review as to convergent devices, and there will be some legislation introduced into the parliament, I think in the next sitting. The government takes very seriously the need for appropriate material on the internet, certainly in terms of streamed material. The legislation has been drafted; it is now being consulted on by industry. So far as I am aware, it will be introduced in February next year and, subject to the consultation that is currently underway, I am very confident that the government will have in place a scheme to deal with the emerging technology as it occurs.