Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister: is the Prime Minister aware that, today, the managing director of SBS has said about the decision to license the World Cup games to Optus: 'Had we not had to look to our budgets, we probably would have retained it like we were planning to when we bought it'? Therefore, when will the Prime Minister apologise to Australians and football fans for his cuts to the SBS?

Mr Hill interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Bruce is warned!

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very pleased to have the chance to respond to what is—as is usually the case with the Leader of the Opposition—a complete mischaracterisation of the facts. The facts are very straightforward. The SBS receives around $280 million in funding every year from the government. How SBS decides to use this funding is a matter for the board and management of SBS—a fairly basic principle of governance.

I do want to make the point that, in exchange for sharing the World Cup rights, SBS secured some rights to the English Premier League matches over a three-year period—2016-17 to 2018-19. In other words, the board and management of SBS made a commercial decision. On this side of the House, we think they are best placed to make those decisions.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the Leader of the Opposition seeking to table a document?

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the transcript where Mr Michael Ebeid attributed this to the cuts to the budget of SBS.

Leave not granted.