Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I move motion 1270 I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Hanson-Young will sponsor the motion along with Senator Gallagher. I move:

That the Senate directs the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee to suspend the inquiry into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service complaints handling until the independent review of the ABC's complaints system has been completed, in line with the request made to the Senate on the 14 November 2021 by the independent Chair of the ABC, Ms Ita Buttrose AC OBE.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No publicly funded entity is above the scrutiny of the Senate and there should be no special set of arrangements for one entity over any of the others. The Australian government recognises the importance of the ABC. Its broadcasting services contribute to a sense of national identity, inform and entertain audiences, and reflect the cultural diversity of the Australian community. The independence of the ABC is enshrined in legislation. Parliament has guaranteed this independence so that the ABC's decisions are free of political interference. However, as a publicly funded entity the ABC is not above the scrutiny of how it conducts itself using taxpayers' money.

Slade Brockman (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion be agreed to.