Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 539 standing in my name for today, relating to the ABC and SBS.

Leave granted.

I have had the amendments circulated in the chamber. I've also spoken to both the Labor and the government members running the show here. Substantially, it's not much different. There is slightly different wording, but also I have added Senator Deb O'Neill as a co-sponsor of the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator O'Neill, move the motion as amended:

The Senate notes:

a) The overwhelming public support for the ABC and SBS in providing news services, quality programming including for children, and online catch up services iView and SBS On Demand.

b) The vital role of the national broadcasters in promoting a diversity of services in the Australian media environment.

c) The Liberal-National Government is waging an ideological war on public broadcasting, as evidenced by successive budget cuts, reviews and inquiries, and its recent deal with the One Nation Party in the context of the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Bill 2017 which includes:

a. a competitive neutrality inquiry into the ABC and SBS

b. amendments to the ABC Charter to undermine its independence

c. amendments to legislation to force the disclosure of the salaries of staff at the ABC and SBS.

The Senate agrees it will not support legislation that forces the ABC or SBS to publicise the salaries of its staff, breaching their right to privacy.