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

My question is to the Minister for Communications, Minister Fifield. The government has confirmed that it has agreed to a deal with One Nation to establish a competitive neutrality review. Could the minister please give the Senate an understanding of what the terms of reference for this will be? And can the minister rule out before this review commences that digital services of ABC iview and SBS On Demand will not in any way be affected?

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

I thank Senator Hanson-Young for her question. It is part of the discussions and agreement that the government has reached with Pauline Hanson's One Nation that there will be a competitive neutrality review. I have publicly indicated a couple of weeks ago that this whole area was one that the government would be taking a closer look at. For colleagues who mightn't be as familiar with the concept of competitive neutrality, it essentially revolves around the idea that government entities by virtue of that status should not use their position in a way that adversely or unfairly affects competition when it comes to commercial organisations. I think a number of colleagues would be aware that the Productivity Commission, for instance, has a unit to which organisations can make a complaint, be they government or private sector, in relation to competitive neutrality issues and that those will be examined. A number of commercial media organisations have over recent times raised issues.

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

Senator Hanson-Young, on a point of order?

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

I acknowledge the information coming from the minister, but I would like you to draw the minister to my direct question about the digital services of ABC iview and SBS On Demand, and whether they are under Pauline Hanson's axe.

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

You did also ask: what are the terms? I think the minister was outlining some of the terms, but the minister has heard your point of order.

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

We have announced that there will be an inquiry. We have not as yet outlined what the terms of reference will be. Those will be determined in consultation with both the commercial broadcasters and the public broadcasters. I'm sure a number of colleagues in this place will also have thoughts in relation to that. The ABC charter specifically mentions the ABC providing digital services. That is a matter of law. But I don't have any set views in terms of the outcomes of that inquiry.

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

Senator Hanson-Young, a supplementary question.

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

Minister, I take it from that, that you won't rule out cutting services to ABC iview. I draw your attention to that specifically. Could the minister please explain how the government sees that the ABC should be able to establish these other provisions demanded by One Nation and where the money will come from? What other services will be cut? (Time expired)

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

Nothing in the agreement that the government has entered into with One Nation relates to resourcing. Colleagues will be aware that in the budget before last the ABC's triennial funding was outlined. In terms of the review itself, I don't have any set views as to what the recommendations may be that come out of that. The ABC, as colleagues would know, has legislated independence, so the government is not in a position to direct and doesn't have an intention to direct the ABC. The ABC will continue to follow its charter. It will continue to operate independently as is guaranteed by the legislation. The competitive neutrality review is essentially a mechanism so that those who have issues in this area can have them ventilated.

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

Senator Hanson-Young, a final supplementary question.

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

On Tuesday night, Senator Hanson declared in reference to the ABC:

I'd whack off quite a bit of money off it—hundreds of millions if I possibly could—but I'm going to wait next year til the budget and I'll talk to the Treasurer about that.

Will the government rule out any further negotiations with One Nation as Senator Hanson-Young has clearly identified she wants cuts to the ABC?

Government Senators:

Government senators interjecting—

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

Order on my right!

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

Of course I want more money for the ABC. Senator Hanson wants cuts.

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

I thought there was an unlikely unity ticket there for a moment, but apparently not. There are range of colleagues in this place who have views about ABC resourcing. Some would like the ABC to have fewer resources and some would like the ABC to have more resources. It is open to any colleague to put their views in relation to those matters. As I indicated earlier, the government outlined and established the ABC's triennium funding the budget before last.