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

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1080, standing in my name, relating to the funding of the Australia Network. I understand that the amendment has been circulated in the chamber.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

  (a) notes that:

     (i) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 states that the “corporation or prescribed companies [are] to be the only providers of Commonwealth-funded international

broadcasting services”,

     (ii) the Abbott Government stripped funding for the Australia Network from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and

     (iii) the Morrison Government has indicated that it plans to work “with our commercial media operators to ensure the Pacific can connect to quality Australian media content”; and

  (b) calls on the Federal Government to reinstate the Australia Network and award the public funding for the Australia Network broadcasting in the Asia-Pacific to the ABC.