Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Georgiou for his question. Colleagues may be aware that around the nation there have been a number of community TV stations such as Channel 31 in my home state of Victoria and that referenced by Senator Georgiou.

In late 2014, the previous communications minister wrote to the community TV stations advising them that there would be a conclusion to their access to the spectrum that they use. The previous communications minister also gave funding to those community TV stations to assist them in transitioning to online platforms. That money was accepted by those community TV stations on the basis that they would make that transition.

Subsequent to that, community TV stations around Australia asked for a one-year extension of access to spectrum, which I granted. That was due to conclude at the end of last year, but the community TV stations asked for a further extension of six months, which, again, I granted. Both the first and second extensions, as well as the money which was provided to community TV stations, were granted on the understanding that community TV stations would shift to online platforms. So the access to spectrum is scheduled to come to a conclusion at the end of this month, and part of the rationale is that there are other potential uses for that spectrum, Specifically, in answer to the question, I understand that there are some propositions to utilise that spectrum.