Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Conroy. I remind the minister that yesterday the Joint Select Committee on Broadcasting Legislation heard from WIN Television that they have serious concerns over the future of their 25 regional news bulletins if the 75 per cent reach rule is removed. CEO of WIN Television, Andrew Lancaster, said that removing the reach rule would be 'the end of regional television'. Given this, isn't it now obvious that the government's media reforms will not only restrict freedom of the press but also restrict the provision of local news, local sport and local weather to regional Australia?