The Par1irnie:itarJ- Library-.
Date introduced:
Hoim e
:
P r e s e n t e d by:
4 Novenber 1976
Hoiise o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s .
Mr. K e a t i n g , (Hon, Paul John Kea-t.ing).
The Mem3er f o r Blaxlarzd (N.S.W.
A.L.P. and
Shadow M i n i s t e r f o r M i n e r a l s and Energy.
Opposition
S h o r t D i g e s t .o f B i l l :
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I
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The p-u-reose
of the B i l l :
To amend t h e Broadcasd Television
-* -----.--Act 1942 t o exclinde p r e s e n t and f u t u r e newspapex' investmeat f r o m
, r a d i o and t e l e v i s i o n h o l d i n g s .
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.
y
I
L
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Summarx:
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Clause 2 would have provided t h a t a new s e c t i o n 90s be
i n s e r t e d a f t e r s e c t i o n 90R i n D i v i s i o n 2 o f P a r t I V o f t h e P r i n c i p a l
Act which would have s t a t e d t h a t Parliament approves t h e p r i n c i p l e
t h a t e i t h e r d i s e c t l y o r indi-nectl-y it i s u n d e s i r a b l e that- a p e r s o n
who has a s u b s t a n t i a l f i n w - c i a l . i n t e r e s t i n a newspaper should a l s o
have, e i t h e r d i r e c t l y or i n d i r e c t l y , a f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t i n a
c ommerci a1 broadcast ing st at 5. on.
Clause 3 w o - d d have provided t h a t a new s e c t i o n 92 KB be
i n s e r t e d a f t e r s e c t i o n 92KA i n D i v i s i o n 3 o f P a r t I V o f t h e P r i n c i p a l
Act which woixld have s t a t e d t h a t P a r l i m e r i i ; a p p r o v e s t h e p r i n c i p l e
t h a t i t i s u n d e s i r a b l e t h a t a person who h a s e i t l i e r d i r e c t l y o r
i n d i r e c t l y , a s u b s t a n t i a l f i n a n c i a l . i n t e r e s t i n a newspaper should
also have e i t h e r d i r ' e c t l y or i n d i r q c t l y , a f i n a n c < ; i l i n t e r e s t i n
a commercial. t e l e v i s-i.on st at ion.
Im_;Elications:
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A f t e r t h e B i l l w a s read a f i r s t t i m e M r . Keat-j-ng moved
t h a t t h e B i l l be r e a d a second time. By l e a v e , d e b a t e ensued.
The Q u e s t i o n t h e n b e i n g p u t , t h e House d i v i d e d Ayes 31, Noes 81,
and SO i t w a s n e g a t i v e d . The B i l l soug?i?t t o d e a l w i t h problems
which Mr. Keating descri'oed as: (1 )"the u n d e s i r a b l e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f
ownership o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n e l e c t r o n i c media i n t h e hands o f newsp a p e r monopolies", and ( 2 ) " t h e a r b i t r a r y na-tiire of t h e power which
i s avail-able t o p r o p r i e t o r s , . . t o f i x t h e p r i o r i t i e s on p u b l i c
issues".
e-
' &
v
5 November 1976
K ? I . INGLIS
Leg is l a t rive Re s e ar c b Sp e c i alist
(Grade 5 )
Special- D u t i e s (Law and Government)
LEGISLAT T-/T RESEARCJ
SYRVICE
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