Fifield describes TV/radio licence fees as a ‘super profits tax’, indicates potential reform
Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield today provided his strongest hint yet that the Coalition is open to further cut licence fees for broadcasters.
Fifield: open to licence fee cuts.
In a Sky News interview this morning Senator Fifield was questioned on reports the government would move on the issue in the next budget, telling his interviewer: “[licence fees] were introduced in the late 50s. They were like the original super profits tax in an environment where the only options for people were print, radio, or TV.
“There was no other broadcast media, so TV and radio were in a very strong and dominant position. Obviously things have changed a heck of a lot since then.
“In recognition of the changed landscape, in 2013 the license fees were cut in half. We’ve indicated to both radio and TV that we’re prepared to examine license fees in the context of the coming budget, and that’s what we’re doing.”
