Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Coonan, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Has the minister seen reports that the ABC board will release new editorial guidelines to fight what it sees as bias in a range of non-news programs, including children’s television and comedy? Does this mean that comedy programs like The Glasshouse will now be subject to guidelines setting ‘standards of impartiality’? Is the minister aware of whether any commercial broadcaster is subject to similar standards? Can the minister also advise what impact these guidelines will have on children’s programming? Does the minister have any concerns about bias on programs such as The Wiggles and Bananas in Pyjamas? Should there be a green Wiggle, perhaps? Should other fruits and vegetables get their own shows? Isn’t this just a ridiculous attempt by a board stacked with zealots to remake the ABC in its own extreme conservative image?