Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Communications, Senator Fifield. Can the minister update the Senate on the government's plans for comprehensive media reform.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Smith. On Saturday I was very pleased to announce the Turnbull government's comprehensive and holistic media reform package. It aims very deliberately to support the viability and the longevity of Australian media. I am sure I speak on behalf of every colleague in this place when I say that we might not always like what those in the media might write, print, broadcast, stream or post about any of us here, but we all recognise the important role that the Australian media plays in underpinning our democracy.

This is a package which is unabashedly pro Australian media. It is pro journalism, it is for Australian stories and it is for Australian voices. Notably, the package has the unanimous support of the Australian media industry—we are talking channels Nine, Seven, Ten, WIN, Prime, Southern Cross Austereo, Fairfax, News Limited, Foxtel, Commercial Radio Australia, Free TV Australia and ASTRA. I think those who have worked in this area know that getting that degree of unanimity is something that is very rare indeed in this industry, and I commend those in the sector who have looked beyond their own legitimate organisational interests to the broader interests of the media sector.

As colleagues would be aware, we are going to abolish broadcast licence fees, which are from a bygone era, and put in their place a more modest spectrum charge. The good news is that this provides the opportunity for a community dividend in the form of further restrictions on gambling advertising across all platforms, which we will be aiming to have in place by March next year.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith, a supplementary question.

Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister inform the Senate as to how these reforms have been received by stakeholders and the industry?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In one word, I can say that they have been received well. Let me cite a few instances: Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes AC said:

I endorse the complete legislation package proposed by the government … I am pleased that the Turnbull government is backing the Australian media industry through these reforms.

Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh said: 'We welcome the fact that the government has announced a comprehensive package of reforms of media regulation. Foxtel calls on the opposition and crossbench senators to support the package in full.' Free TV chair Harold Mitchell said:

This package is crucial for Australian jobs and our ability to continue creating local programming that is watched by millions of Australians every day.

Network Ten CEO Paul Anderson said of the 75 per cent audience reach rule—given that time is running out, let me summarise what he said by indicating that he said it should go.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Smith, a final supplementary question.

Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Noting, as you have, the unanimous support of the industry, can you advise the Senate of any alternative views?

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If I can continue on from what Mr Anderson indicated in his remarks, he also said that the two-out-of-three rule should go, which leads me to: what are the alternatives?

There is not a great deal in the way of alternative policy in this area. What there is is some reflexive, negative approaches to what the government is putting forward—and I am talking, of course, about the Australian Labor Party who, when we put the 75 per cent and two-out-of-three rule legislation to the parliament, referred it off to Senate committee for many months. We then had the election and introduced it again, and they then again referred it off to Senate committee for many months, saying it was piecemeal. What we are putting forward here is a very broad package, and guess what Labor are saying now? They are saying that what we are putting forward as a government is just housekeeping. What we were putting forward before, apparently, was piecemeal, and this—which is comprehensive—they are now saying is housekeeping. I think it is time to put aside the arguments of the past and support Australian media. (Time expired)