Debate resumed from 8 May, on motion by Mr Billson:

That this bill be now read a second time.

upon which Mr Albanese moved by way of amendment:

That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: “whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:

(1)

notes

(a)

that the Senate Committee inquiry into the bill did not allow interested parties sufficient time to consider and draft submissions to the committee, this constraint not allowing meaningful consultation on the bill;

(b)

the lack of information as to how the omission of the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) platform from the legislation will affect the roll-out of digital radio to rural and regional Australia and notes that this legislation only specifies the use of Digital Radio Broadcasting (DAB); and

(c)

that trials on DRM and compression standards are still being carried out;

(2)

calls for debate on the bill to be deferred until meaningful consultation has occurred; and

(3)

demands that the Government make every endeavour to ensure that standards are in place to enable the rollout of digital radio to remote, rural and regional Australia”.

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