Kay Patterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Will the minister inform the Senate how Australian consumers will benefit from the Australian government’s media reform package? Is the minister aware of any alternative policies?

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Patterson for the question and for her ongoing interest in delivering services for Australian consumers. Following the release of the government’s media reform package the question that at least senators on this side of the chamber would be most interested in is: what is in the package for consumers? Much of the coverage by media organisations has, unsurprisingly, focused on whether the package is a commercial win for one player or the other. I make no apologies, and this government makes no apologies, for the fact that consumers are the endgame in this process, and I believe that they will be the biggest winners. The package will begin delivering benefits to consumers as early as next year and will continue to improve the availability of media content as we move into the digital age.

By next year, a range of new services may be available over the two vacant allocations of digital spectrum. These services could include free-to-air, in-home, digital-only channels or even perhaps snack television—small segments of TV content delivered over a mobile device, much like a mobile phone. Both national broadcasters will be able to show a range of new and exciting content on their digital multichannels as soon as legislation is passed. Commercial broadcasters will be permitted to broadcast additional content to their main channel on a high-definition, digital multichannel by next year and by 2009 will be able to add to that with a standard definition multichannel. With these new services we aim to make the digital experience in Australia more attractive for consumers to contribute to the mosaic of matters necessary to drive digital take-up of television in Australia.

Transitioning to digital is what the driving need to reform the increasingly outdated media rules in Australia is all about—rules that constrain media companies from investing in new technologies or, indeed, diversifying into new areas. What is being proposed is an integrated and far-reaching package to transition the current media settings to the new digital environment by encouraging both new players and new services for Australian consumers. The package will deliver this increased flexibility within a framework which protects both diversity and local content.

I was asked whether or not I am aware of any alternative policies. I am certainly aware that the Labor Party has absolutely no credibility—

George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have you got an alternative?

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator George Campbell, come to order!

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in criticising the government in relation to the introduction of digital broadcasting in Australia. Labor, of course, did absolutely nothing while in government to prepare for the introduction of digital broadcasting.

George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What about your broadband strategy? What are you going to do about Telstra?

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator George Campbell, come to order!

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It still has no policies to speak of in this area, other than opposing government policy for the sake of it and clinging to outdated models for the industry which will ultimately damage the industry and provide absolutely nothing for consumers. It is time that Labor really got serious about this and started to put some effort—

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Banking and Financial Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We’re talking about Labor policy and we’re cheering it.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sherry!

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and some backbone into delivering policies—

George Campbell (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You should be called the ex communications minister.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator George Campbell, come to order!

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that will actually deliver services for the Australian people. We will continue to deliver policies that will enable—

Kay Patterson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. I asked Senator Coonan a question. I am very interested in the answer, but I cannot hear it because of the noise from the other side. I ask that you would ask the other side to desist from making interjections.

Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There have been consistent interjections from those on my left. I would ask you to cease making those interjections. I call Senator Coonan.

Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was concluding by saying that we will continue to deliver policies that will enable industry to deliver for consumers into the future.