Government gives free-to-air TV a $50 million pre-election gift
The Albanese Government has suspended the commercial broadcasting tax for a twelve-month period, lifting “an outdated and unreasonable burden” that will save the free-to-air networks $50 million in fees.
The commercial broadcasting tax is the latest iteration of what has traditionally been known as a “spectrum tax”, which was implemented in 1964 and saw commercial TV stations taxed a percentage of their revenues, in exchange for access to the broadcast spectrum.
In 2017, regulatory reforms saw the 4.5% gross revenue licence fee replaced with a flat tax (the CBT), and positioned as an ‘interim’ measure for a five-year period.
This $45 Million licence tax “holiday” will do nothing to “help journalism”. There’s nothing like helping commercial networks give more airtime to Labor than a $45 million dollar free gift. Official Legal BRIBERY !