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

The government does not support this motion. The government supports the ABC and SBS with over $1.3 billion in taxpayer funding every year. The Australian public deserves transparency over how this money is spent, and the government's policy to require additional transparency in relation to staff salaries is an appropriate requirement and follows the example of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The government has asked the ABC and SBS to implement this policy voluntarily. Should they refuse to do so, the Senate will have an opportunity to determine this matter through debate on legislation.