Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Hansard source

I will take Senator McAllister's intervention, because her question is perfectly right. If there is less media diversity in this country, what's the point of giving scholarships to students who can't find a job? That's cruel for them because you're leading them up the garden path. You're making them think that you have passed some legislation which is going to benefit them and give them a job. The reality is that you have reduced media diversity in the country. This benefits not just some of the wealthiest people in this country but some of the wealthiest people on this planet. They'll do very well out of this deal, Senator Xenophon. But with the $50 million that you've got spread out over three years, spread out over all of the states and territories, I think it's misleading to the students who might take up these scholarships. The reality is they're not going to get any benefit out of it by way of employment.

So I have some questions of Senator Xenophon, through you, Chair. Has the government provided you with any details of how the innovation fund and those scholarships will be shared between the states and territories? Has the government guaranteed to set a minimum share of either of those funds that will go to your home state of South Australia?