Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Hansard source

I will first deal with the second reading amendment circulated by the opposition. The question is that the second reading amendment on sheet 1335, circulated by the opposition, be agreed to.

Op position's circulated amendment

At the end of the motion, add: ", but the Senate notes that:

(a) on 6 May 2017, the Coalition Government announced "a review of Australian and children's content" to "ensure the ongoing availability of Australian and children's content to domestic and international audiences, regardless of platform", yet over four years later there is still no sign of an Australian content obligation for streaming services;

(b) the Government has already watered down Australian content obligations for commercial free-to-air television broadcasters;

(c) the Government now proposes to halve the Australian content obligation for subscription television broadcasters;

(d) on 14 September 2017, the Coalition Government first announced the $50 million Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund, yet since then only $17.48 million has been committed under three funding rounds;

(e) the reallocation of funds from the Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund to the Public Interest News Gathering (PING) Program in 2020 reduced the amount of funding available for regional and small publishers; and

(f) the ongoing delay and inadequacy around government support and reform is undermining jobs and content in the screen sector and the public interest journalism industry in Australia".

Question negatived.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

I will now deal with the circulated amendments to the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill 2021, starting with the amendments on sheet 1333, circulated by Senator Patrick.

I've had a request from the government to recommit the second reading amendment on sheet 1335. With the leave of the Senate, I will recommit the second reading amendment moved by the opposition on sheet 1335. The question is the second reading amendment on sheet 1335, as circulated by the opposition, be agreed to.