George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Paterson. This gives me the opportunity, by the way, to congratulate you on that superb maiden speech last night. It is great to be joined on this side of the chamber by another great champion of liberty. Senator Paterson, the question you posed is very appropriate. It is very appropriate, indeed, on this last sitting day of the autumn sittings to reflect on the many important initiatives that the Turnbull government has announced in only the last seven weeks since parliament returned from the summer recess.

On 25 February we had the defence white paper announced by the Minister for Defence and the Prime Minister, in which the government committed to delivering a more potent, agile and engaged Australian Defence Force ready to respond whenever our interests are threatened and our help is needed—a once-in-a-generation statement of Australian defence policy, widely praised and well received by all commentators; a real landmark achievement of the defence minister, Senator Payne.

Meanwhile, on 1 March, more recently, the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield, announced that the government would introduce the most significant reforms in a generation to our media laws, supporting the viability of our local organisations as they face increasing competition from a rapidly changing digital landscape. These reforms will result in major changes to the regulations governing the control and ownership of Australia's traditional media outlets and the provision of local television content in regional Australia—once again, a once-in-a-generation reform pioneered by the Turnbull government, pioneered by ministers in this government, which eluded previous governments, that have been the subject of announcement in recent weeks. And, if Senator Paterson cares to enquire further, I will be able to inform him further of other announcements the government has lately made.