Bills Digest no. 30 1976 - Broadcasting and Television Amendment Act (No. 2) 1976

WARNING:
This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced and does not canvass subsequent amendments. This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine the subsequent official status of the Bill.

Passage History

Short Digest of Bill:

The purpose of the Bill:

To amend the Broadcasting and Television Act 1942 to exclude present and future newspaper investment from radio and television holdings.

Summary:

Clause 2 would have provided that a new section 90S be inserted after section 90R in Division 2 of Part IV of the Principal Act which would have stated that Parliament approves the principle that either directly or indirectly it is undesirable that a person who has a substantial financial interest in a newspaper should also have, either directly or indirectly, a financial interest in a commercial broadcasting station.

Clause 3 would have provided that a new section 92 KB be inserted after section 92KA in Division 3 of Part IV of the Principal Act which would have stated that Parliament approves the principle that it is undesirable that a person who has either directly or indirectly, a substantial financial interest in a newspaper should also have either directly or indirectly, a financial interest in a commercial television station.

Implications:

After the Bill was read a first time Mr. Keating moved that the Bill be read a second time. By leave, debate ensued. The Question then being put, the House divided Ayes 31, Noes 81, and so it was negatived. The Bill sought to deal with problems which Mr. Keating described as: (1) “the undesirable concentration of ownership of the Australian electronic media in the hands of newspaper monopolies”, and (2) “the arbitrary nature of the power which is available to proprietors … to fix the priorities on public issues”.

Contact Officer and Copyright Details

K.I. Inglis
5 November 1976
Bills Digest Service
Information and Research Services

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