Message received from the House of Representatives returning the bill informing the Senate that the House has agreed to the bill with amendments and requesting the concurrence of the Senate in the amendments.

Ordered that the message be considered in Committee of the Whole immediately.

House of Representatives message—

schedule of the amendments made by the house of representatives

(1)    Schedule 2, item 3A, page 4 (lines 14 to 17), omit the item.

(2)    Schedule 2, page 4 (before line 18), before item 4, insert:

3B  Clause 2 of Schedule 4

Insert:

quarter means a period of 3 months beginning on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October of a year.

(3)    Schedule 2, item 4A, page 6 (line 1) to page 7 (line 12), omit the item.

(4)    Schedule 2, item 4B, page 7 (lines 13 to 28), omit the item.

(5)    Schedule 2, page 11 (after line 5), after item 12, insert:

12A  After clause 11 of Schedule 4

Insert:

11A Quarterly reports

        (1)    The commercial television conversion scheme must require the ACMA to:

             (a)    prepare a report for each quarter about the following matters:

                   (i)    the extent to which the objective in paragraph 6(3)(f) is being met for each licence area to which that paragraph applies;

                  (ii)    if that objective is not being met for a particular licence area—the steps that holders of commercial television broadcasting licences are taking to ensure that the objective will be met; and

             (b)    publish the report on the ACMA’s website.

        (2)    Subclause (1) does not apply to a quarter that begins after the end of the simulcast period for the licence area concerned.

(6)    Schedule 2, page 11 (after line 30), after item 17, insert:

17A  After clause 25 of Schedule 4

Insert:

25A Quarterly reports

        (1)    The national television conversion scheme must require the ACMA to:

             (a)    prepare a report for each quarter about the following matters:

                   (i)    the extent to which the objective in paragraph 19(3)(f) is being met for each coverage area to which that paragraph applies;

                  (ii)    if that objective is not being met for a particular coverage area—the steps that the national broadcasters are taking to ensure that the objective will be met; and

             (b)    publish the report on the ACMA’s website.

        (2)    Subclause (1) does not apply to a quarter that begins after the end of the simulcast period for the coverage area concerned.

(7)    Schedule 2, page 12 (after line 8), after item 20, insert:

20A  At the end of Schedule 4

Add:

PART 12—MINISTERIAL REPORTS

65 Ministerial reports—self-help re-transmission services and blackspots

        (1)    As soon as practicable after:

             (a)    the 6-month period ending on 30 June 2009; and

             (b)    each later 6-month period;

the Minister must cause to be prepared a report about:

             (c)    progress in converting self-help television re-transmission services from analog mode to digital mode; and

             (d)    the identification and rectification of blackspots in relation to the reception of:

                   (i)    commercial television broadcasting services; and

                  (ii)    national television broadcasting services;

                      in digital mode.

        (2)    The Minister must consult the ACMA in relation to the preparation of a report under subclause (1).

        (3)    The Minister must cause copies of a report under subclause (1) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the completion of the report.

        (4)    In this clause:

self-help television re-transmission service means a television re-transmission service that:

             (a)    is covered by subsection 212(1); and

             (b)    is provided by a self-help provider (within the meaning of section 212A).