Government to undertake ‘competitive neutrality inquiry’ into ABC in exchange for One Nation’s support of media reforms
One Nation senators are giving ‘conditional’ support to the media reform bill, as it locks in a deal with the Turnbull government which includes a ‘competitive neutrality inquiry’ into the ABC, and $12m in funding for community radio.
The existing government package – which includes licence fee relief for commercial television and radio broadcasters, restrictions on gambling advertising during live sporting events, and the abolishment of the two-out-of-three ownership and 75% reach rules – passed in the House of Representatives in late June, but has stalled in the Senate.
Senators including Pauline Hanson and Nick Xenophon were understood to be standing in the way of the media reforms passing in the Senate.
A Facebook post this afternoon on Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain page said: “After extensive consultation with industry bodies, Government representatives and regional communities, One Nation Senators have given conditional support to the Government for its Media Reform Bill.”
The party said it had received “assurances” from the government it will ask the ABC to start providing details of the wages and conditions of all staff whose packages amount to more than $200,000.
According to the post, the government has also agreed to undertake “a competitive neutrality inquiry into the ABC” and to legislate a requirement for the ABC to be “fair and balanced”.
The party also confirmed an agreement to enhance the ABC’s provision of services to rural and regional Australians, and $12m in funding for community radio measures, which includes increased funding to support the digital rollout of community radio.
“I have always been a big supporter of community radio, we need to ensure that Australian communities, both regional and city have access to a diverse and independent voice. More often than not community radio is that voice, so it is vitally important that they are supported and well-funded,” Hanson said.
“While I’ve had a hot and cold relationship with what many call ‘fake news’ media, there’s nothing fake about my very real concern for the future of our Australian media”.
The announcement comes after much speculation One Nation may be pushing for funding cuts to the national broadcaster in exchange for supporting the reforms.
Communications minister Mitch Fifield appeared on Fran Kelly’s ABC Radio National Breakfast program last week and was asked: “Are you inclined to agree to a spending review of the public broadcasters in return for One Nation votes?”
Fifield responded at the time: “We haven’t entered any agreements with any parties. We did lay out in the Budget before last the ABC’s triennial funding. That wasn’t altered in the last Budget. That’s the fact. But I think it’s important to acknowledge the work that Michelle Guthrie has done within the ABC where she’s created a new content fund and part of the purpose of that is to employ more regional journalists. And I think that’s great.”
He made similar comments during a press gallery doorstop at Parliament House in May when asked: “It looks like One Nation support might be crucial to passing this, but they’ve announced they won’t support any of the Government’s bills unless there’s a funding cut to the ABC. What’s your response?”
He responded: “We laid out the funding for the ABC in the Budget before last on a triennium funding basis. So the funding for the ABC is there. We have a range of legislative propositions before the Senate and we ask our crossbench colleagues to look at those on their merits.”
About time too. When thousands of Australian businesses in various media pay their 28-30% taxes, which fund the ABC, which in turn cannibalise their businesses, it’s offensive, unethical and insupportable.
The ABC can fulfil all of its statutory obligations without attacking those who fund its behemoth-like presence. If not, then it may pay a heavy price when they organise against it.
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The ABC can only cannibalise your media outlet if you are not providing what the public want. In regards to news – if you want ambulance chasing and traffic accidents tune into 7, 9 or 10. If you want anger then read News Limited papers or listen to 2GB. If you want non-stop ads – listen to Talking Lifestyle. If you want local, national and international news tune into the ABC. Simple.
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This is purely a vendetta that One Nation is waging against the ABC,
and the “competitive neutrality inquiry” will be nothing more than a Witch hunt used by the Commercial networks and the Murdoch Press to devoid the ABC of as much content (content that the public would never see on 7,9 or 10) as possible including shutting down Iview because it’s to successful, that’s their end game.
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Like all dictators Pauline wants to shut down the media to hide us from the truth.
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I totally agree with one nation party to much money is spent on a very leftist tv station should be much much more centre field I have stopped viewings the ABC as have many of my friends.
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Any concept of the ABC ‘cannibalising’ the commercial FTAs is idiocy.
The ABC’s charter is – in lose terms – to do what the commercial channels don’t do.
For example they HAVE to broadcast to the entire Australian footprint no matter what the cost. They HAVE to do it without any advertising revenue or sponsorship. They HAVE to provide local news services to all Australians. They HAVE to tailor content such as rural reporting. They HAVE to carry religious content. They HAVE to utilise all electronic media – TV, radio and internet.
And on every one of those criteria they shine.
Only alt-right brownshirts would think to the contrary. If you don’t like the ABC then please leave.
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