James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

So, it will establish a transitional support payment for 19 commercial broadcasters to ensure that there is no commercial broadcaster that will be worse off during the first five years as a result of the transition from a revenue based licence fee and charge arrangement to a new interim transmitter licence tax arrangement.

Before I go into further detail I would like to say that these reforms demonstrate that the government is listening to community concerns about gambling advertising and will act to protect children while at the same time fostering a vibrant, competitive and sustainable media industry. These reforms that are before the Senate this evening enjoy the unanimous support of Australia's media industry. If you know anything about our media industry—and a lot of people tonight have expressed how much they do know about Australia's media industry—it is interesting that the fact that the industry has come together with unanimous support for this package shows that this is a good thing, because they are diverse: we have the big players, the small players; we have those that target different markets. So it is very, very important to listen to the industry in terms of what the industry understands is in the best interests of the long-term survival and viability of the Australian media industry.

Free-to-air broadcasters play an important role in providing access to high-quality Australian content such as sporting events, current affairs, drama and children's programs, and they provide that to all Australians. However, they are operating in an increasingly challenging environment due to the entry of online service providers. Audiences now have viewing opportunities across more platforms than ever before. What we have to understand, especially for those people who are listening at home, whether you are sitting around the wireless or you are out on the tractor or wherever you may be—

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

Well, there could be some late cane harvesting happening, Senator Macdonald—very late cane harvesting—although it would be very surprising if that was happening. But there has not been a serious reform of Australia's media really since the internet exploded onto the scene in Australia. That is a very important point, because the internet can be an unregulated market, in a way, and it has had a massive disruptive effect on our free-to-air broadcasters. This bill today is trying to achieve reform in this industry that can ensure that the industry continues to thrive and, unlike TheBarcoo Independent, will not be calling for people to provide reams of A3 paper.

Audiences are becoming increasingly fragmented, and advertising revenue for commercial broadcasters is falling as competition in the sector increases. Our broadcasting and content reform package will modernise regulation and help position the sector to deal with these existing and future challenges more effectively. The key elements of this package include the abolition of the broadcasting licence fees for television and radio, allowing broadcasters to better compete with better media platforms.

This goes back to my earlier point in terms of how the internet and online portals are behaving in such a disruptive manner against the traditional free-to-air broadcasters. It is introducing a price for the use of spectrum by broadcasters that better reflects its use. It will protect Australian children by banning gambling advertising during sports broadcasts in children's viewing hours. This is a very important reform in that one of the many complaints we get on this side of chamber, which we have listened to, is the growth of gambling ads and how people are unhappy that gambling advertising is taking place during sports shows, especially when children are watching sport and are connecting gambling with sport. We want to make sure that children are focusing on the benefits of sport and competition and make sure they understand that sport is not often about a financial gain; it is about competing and winning.

Amendments will be made to the antisiphoning scheme and there will be a broad-ranging and comprehensive review of Australian and children's content. There will be a $30 million funding package for subscription television, to support the broadcasting of women's sports and niche sports. That is something that we should all encourage. Speaking as a Queenslander, the State of Origin was on last night—