Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I should yes—is digital radio and community broadcasters, because that is obviously very important. The pricing structure does not apply to those groups. The national and community broadcasters, they were not paying existing broadcast licence fees, so obviously to oppose a spectrum fee would be—

Senator O'Sullivan interjecting—

I could start again if you like, Senator O'Sullivan. You missed the first part, and it was excellent. To impose a spectrum fee on those broadcasters would obviously be unfair; it would increase their fees, if they were not paying them already. While commercial digital radio providers do pay some broadcast licensing fees, the government is not proposing the imposition of a spectrum fee on this type of service at this stage.

In the two minutes that I have left, I could probably go into the restrictions on gambling advertising. This is a particularly exciting area of reform. The coalition has taken the opportunity to provide a community dividend from these broadcasting reforms. We are responding to the widespread community concerns about the prevalence of gambling advertising during live sporting events, which ratings data indicates are very popular with children and with young audiences. This will prevent young viewers being bombarded with gambling advertisements during live sport. There is a safe zone—it is called a 'safe zone' now—platform for children watching live sport, and it will be very straightforward for families to observe. That applies up to 8.30 pm, but it does not necessarily mean that viewers will be bombarded after 8.30 pm.