Senate debates
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Motions
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
4:07 pm
James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I move:
That the Senate—
(a) notes that, for the first time since 1952, the ABC will not have a live radio broadcast of the Olympic Games; and
(b) expresses disappointment that the ABC has indicated that it will not reverse its decision not to broadcast the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to move an amendment to general business notice of motion No. 317, moved by Senator McGrath.
Leave granted.
I move the amendment as circulated in the name of Senator Kitching:
1. After paragraph (b), insert:
(c) notes that the ABC cited 'budget pressures' and 'competing budget priorities' as part of its decision not to pursue the non-commercial radio rights for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; and
(d) notes that the ABC warned that the Government's decision to impose an indexation pause of $83.7 million over the next three years would make it very difficult for the ABC to meet its Charter requirements and audience expectations.
Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The question is that the amendment moved by Senator Urquhart in the name of Senator Kitching to motion No. 317 be agreed to.
4:14 pm
Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
We now move to the motion as it originally stood—without the amendment—as moved by Senator McGrath.
Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
On the basis that the amendment was lost, Labor will support the government's motion. However, we do think it is important to mention the fact that the reason given for not being able to pursue radio rights for the Olympics was that it is due to budget pressures which are directly related to the government's latest round of cuts totalling $83.7 million over the next three years, which would make it very difficult for the ABC to meet its charter requirement and audience expectation. We thought that was an important component to have in the motion, but we will put it on the record and support the motion unamended.
4:15 pm
Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a very short statement.
Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The Greens will support this motion. However, it needs to be understood very clearly that the reason that the Olympics will not be broadcast on radio is that this government continues to cut the ABC's budget. We know there are people on the benches of the government who want to cut it even more. They even have their hand up proudly. These people want to undermine everyday Australians' having access to news, sports coverage and Australian stories because they want the ABC cut, cut, cut.
4:16 pm
Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
For the first time since 1952 the ABC, our national broadcaster, will not have a live radio broadcast of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. It's not because the ABC doesn't want to do that; it's simply because of the freezes that have occurred in the budget. These repeated effective funding cuts from government result in reduced program content and uncertainty amongst its staff.
Senator McGrath interjecting—
We will, of course, support the motion, but I find it ironic that Senator McGrath is interjecting across the chamber when he is the person who is calling for them to cover the events.
Question agreed to.