REGIONAL TELEVISION SERVICES

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. K.J. Maher:

That this council—

1. Condemns the decision of WIN Television Network to axe its local regional news services in the Riverland and South-East.

2. Condemns—

(a) the removal of a vital source of information and engagement from these local communities;

(b) the failure to consult with the local communities to ensure that regional television meets community expectations and obligations; and

(c) the manner in which staff was informed of their dismissal and the now reduced opportunity for the development of journalists and news reporting in regional South Australia.

(Continued from 20 February 2013.)

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (17:56): I move to amend the motion by adding the following paragraph:

3. In light of the foregoing, calls upon the South Australian Labor government to urge the federal Labor government to amend section 43A of the commonwealth Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to require the holder of a regional aggregated commercial television broadcasting licence in South Australia to include minimum levels of material of local significance.

When you look at the initial motion, there are key words in there—condemns, failure to consult, manner in which staff was informed—and then I have highlighted to colleagues in the Legislative Council my additional paragraph 3.

I commend the Hon. Kyam Maher for moving this motion. 'Condemns' is a strong word and other news outlets still exist: the ABC in particular and the region's newspapers—The Border Watch, The Murray Pioneer, The River News, The Loxton News, the Penola Pennant, The Naracoorte Herald and The Border Times. I note that in the last five years, the Riverland lost its local TV news as it was networked out of Mount Gambier. There is clearly a hole in the federal act identified in Canberra and here is the section:

43A—Material of local significance—regional aggregated commercial television broadcasting licences

(1) The ACMA must ensure that, at all times on and after 1 January 2008, there is in force under section 43 a condition that has the effect of requiring the licensee of a regional aggregated commercial television broadcasting licence to broadcast to each local area, during such periods as are specified in the condition, at least a minimum level of material of local significance.

Subsection (2) provides:

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a regional aggregated commercial television broadcasting licence is a commercial television broadcasting licence for any of the following licence areas:

(a) Northern New South Wales;

(b) Southern New South Wales;

(c) Regional Victoria;

(d) Eastern Victoria;

(e) Western Victoria;

(f) Regional Queensland;

(g) Tasmania.

It is interesting to note our new magnificent branding promo the government have just introduced. Tasmania may not be on our logo but there is actually a local content guarantee for Tasmania, but where is South Australia? Without going into all the other sections, it is clear that South Australian MPs of all persuasions—federal members and Senators—were not, I assume, in the chamber when this section was introduced because South Australia was left out—the only state to be left out. Now the chickens have come home to roost. South Australia was left out so it is no wonder that WIN News' first cut to a local news bulletin happens to be in South Australia.

I want to refer to some quotes in the articles attached, and I have good news for the mover of the motion. We see in The Border Watch of Tuesday 19 March 2013, a headline 'Mixed signals: WIN TV boss talks up news network weeks after slashing regional service.' Then there are quotes in there from the WIN TV boss and from the honourable Labor MLC Kyam Maher, but I have good news for the mover of the motion. Senator Conroy has a package of bills to change the media laws in parliament this week.

[Sitting suspended from 18:03 to 19:48]

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: For the benefit of Hansard, I will go back one dot point. I have good news for the mover of the motion: Senator Conroy has a package of bills to change the media laws in parliament this week. This motion will be adjourned in light of my amendment, and so I encourage the Hon. Mr Maher in the time he now has available to get on the phone straightaway to Mr Conroy's office, because I understand the crossbench MPs in Canberra are slowly persuading him to reconsider his take it or leave it approach to media law reform, and ensure this omission regarding South Australia is rectified.

I have spoken today so that honourable members have time before the vote on 10 April to consider this amendment and to alert members on my left that there is a time—today and early tomorrow—to get their Canberra colleagues debating changes to the broadcasting legislation to fix this anomaly and force WIN News to deliver a local news service.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. Carmel Zollo.