Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Deputy President; I probably will not need that long. Senator Fifield had just dismissed out of hand and called this motion a stunt. This is a very simple motion, in response to the more than 10,000 people who signed a petition; we said that we would put this motion forward in defence of public broadcasting. Not only was it a motion that was to be brought forward to one of your Victorian party branches but also it was endorsed by quite senior members of the Liberal Party who joined the Facebook group in its support.

I notice also that you are 'not planning on' privatising public broadcasters. I wonder whether that is in the same way that Campbell Newman was 'not planning on' opening up uranium mining in Queensland before he was elected. You cannot be trusted on a motion like this, and I am very proud to stand with the millions of Australians in defence of public broadcasting. As you work your way down the Institute of Public Affairs hit-list of public policy disasters, we will continue to support public broadcasters in this country.