Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

There is this incredible new invention! When TV stations start streaming online they will be reaching all Australians—those that are on the NBN will be reached an awful lot better than those who will be trapped on the copper if those opposite get elected. But the basics are that they will be reaching all Australians. The 75 per cent reach rule was a rule introduced many years ago before the internet was a serious platform for television. Technology has run over the top of this particular piece of legislation.

Now because at the last minute a number of new concerns—or old concerns—had been raised, I said, 'Look, let's take it out of the package and let's have it considered separately because we don't want there to be any misconceptions about it.' I am not in a position yet to reveal what the deliberations of the committee are. I am waiting to read the report, like everybody else. Like everybody else, I watched with interest yesterday some of the testimony. I watched with interest some of the proprietors talk about the need for diversity—why there should be no further concentration of ownership. I saw owners describe the problems that that could create in this country. I endorse those views.