John Forrest (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. It is a question from a very concerned local member about digital television. I refer the Prime Minister to his government’s digital television switchover timetable and the fact that the electorate of Mallee is the national guinea pig with a switchover scheduled to occur in June this year. Will the Prime Minister guarantee that nobody in the electorate of Mallee will be left without television reception after switchover occurs and that communities such as Ouyen, Walpeup, Underbool, Murrayville and Robinvale in my electorate will have adequate digital signal strength? Will the Prime Minister also guarantee that the local news service out of Mildura will be available to my constituents at the same time as terrestrial delivery should the government elect to utilise a satellite delivery system for those areas unable to be serviced by a terrestrially broadcast digital signal?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Mallee very much for his question because this is a legitimate question raised by those in regional Australia. I am very much aware of the trial which is underway in his part of Australia. Let me answer his question as best I can concerning, firstly, access to general transmission and, secondly, the question of local television news—I think they were the elements of the question.

Firstly, people in regional Australia will get local news. The satellite service will have a dedicated local news channel and they will be able to get their news by what is described as a red button technology. Secondly, I am advised that some people in signal black spots will need a dish for satellite television and we have announced that we will subsidise this at a cost of $400 per household. This means that everyone would be able to get digital TV and all those news channels, including everyone in regional Australia based on the advice that the government has received.

Could I go on to say that in early January this year the government reached an important agreement with Australia’s commercial broadcasters to deliver on the full range of digital television channels to all Australians no matter where they live. The solution being implemented by the government is aimed at ensuring that viewers in black spots around Australia will have access to the same number of television channels as are currently available in the capital cities.

Furthermore, I am advised that under this agreement the commercial broadcasters will upgrade a substantial number of existing analog self-help transmission sites to digital. For areas where retransmission sites are not upgraded or which rely on the existing analog satellite service the government will fully fund a new satellite service. The service will include all free-to-air digital television services including the original three commercial and two national channels as well as new digital services such as ABC2, ABC3, SBS TWO, GO!, 7TWO and ONE HD. Furthermore, the government will provide capital and operational funds to broadcast via satellite all of the local news segments from all of the licensed areas and submarkets around Australia.

Furthermore, Mr Speaker, in response to the honourable member’s question I am advised that viewers would be able to access their local news via this channel as soon as it is available from broadcasters, and they would be able to select their local news on the dedicated news channel via the red button technology I referred to before, which is similar to the system that is already used on Sky News. I thank the member for his question.

John Forrest (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, this is a very sensitive issue. The whole of the nation is watching was is happening in northern Victoria. I wonder if you might allow me the indulgence to pursue the point about the time of the news.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! This would cause me great difficulty today. I apologise to the member for Mallee but I cannot allow him the indulgence, given some comments I made earlier in question time. There is indication that other forms of the House might be conjured up at a later stage for the member for Mallee to use.

John Forrest (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All I can say, Mr Speaker, if I may, is to remind the Prime Minister that, if my constituents are not able to watch their football—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Mallee will resume his seat.