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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-11-13 Daily Xml
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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:24): I want to talk today on a issue that is very close to my heart and, hopefully, to the hearts of other members in this chamber. I want to talk about the Australian Broadcasting Corporation which, I must say, together with SBS, is my main form of entertainment. I am very committed to the ABC and its independence. I am also a great follower of Media Watch, in particular. It would be one of my most favourite programs, along with Can We Help? and a number of other programs, particularly the arts program on Sunday. I feel that by watching those programs regularly, I am all the more informed about what is happening. Of course, this is in addition to all the current events programs to which I am addicted like many other people in this place. I have to say that SBS is also a very close second in my choice of television viewing.

One of the things about which I am concerned is that much information has been circulated recently about advertising and the ABC. I know that a review is being undertaken at present and we as Australians are able to contribute and say how we would like to see the ABC in the future. I notice that the community group of which I am sometimes a member—I say 'sometimes' because I am not entirely sure whether I am financial or in fact if it is run in that way—Friends of the ABC, has pointed out that ABC TV production has been involved in commercial advertising. We do see their ABC products advertised, but there has been commercial advertising on the ABC's internet broadcasting services using the ABC logo.

I know that when the ABC concept was introduced and certainly in recent iteration of the act in 1983, section 31 stipulated that the corporation shall not broadcast advertisements, although that activity did not include the activities of the corporation itself or proposed activities. They are not prohibited by the legislation. As we all know, the original intention of the act was to maintain the independence of our national broadcaster to its consumers so that it would be free of government and commercial advertising, and that this would not be inflicted on us as it is on some of the commercial stations. I do understand that commercial stations and also pay TV, by their very nature, have to have ads, but it is very pleasant to watch the ABC without any commercial advertising.

The point made by the Friends of the ABC is very important for us to note; that is, while we are going through this process of reviewing the ABC, the original spirit of the ABC needs to be kept in its next form. I understand that the Friends of the ABC is circulating a petition at the moment which states that, amongst many of the issues raised, first, there should be no advertising on ABC websites. This is the new form of multimedia with which we are now dealing and it was probably not envisaged in the 1980s when the act was introduced. Secondly, the ABC on-air promotion be limited so that it does not annoy audiences. I thought that was a very good principle for the Friends of the ABC to suggest.

Thirdly, that the ABC will not engage in business arrangements that may damage its integrity or influence its content, including the placement of ABC content on commercial websites or alongside commercial advertising. Fourthly, the ABC's production care will be rebuilt to ensure it develops a range of high quality programs and there is no longer a dependence on outsourced production. Fifthly, the ABC services, including access to past programs, are accessible to all Australians without fee. I hope that these points are taken up by the people who submit to the ABC review.

Time expired.

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