Division Description Changes — Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006 — Second Reading — 18th Oct 2006

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representatives vote 2006-10-18#8 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-01-23 11:11:09	Title Description The majority agreed with the bill's main idea (in parliamentary jargon, they agreed to [read the bill for a second time](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html)). This means that the House can now discuss the bill in more detail. ### Main idea of the bill The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s527) will introduce new laws relating to cross media ownership and foreign media ownership. Specifically, it will permit cross-media [mergers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergers_and_acquisitions) in radio [licence areas](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma) where sufficient diversity of media groups remains following the merger and remove media-specific restrictions on foreign ownership and control. The bill states that there is sufficient diversity of media groups if there are at least five separate media groups in mainland State capitals and at least four groups in other licence areas following any merger activity. ### What are cross media ownership laws? [Under the current law](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032), a person can't control two types of media (including TV, radio and newspaper media) within the same [licence area](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma). For example, one person can't control a commercial television broadcasting licence and a commercial radio broadcasting licence within a particular area. Nor can they control a commercial radio broadcasting licence and a newspaper associated with the area. A person is considered to be in control of the particular type of media if they have interests in the company greater than 15%. ### What are foreign media ownership laws? There are currently [several controls on foreign ownership](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032) of Australian media. For example, there are strict limits on the degree of total foreign interest in newspaper ownership as well as a set limit on the interest of any single foreign shareholder. ### Background to the bill Since it was elected in 1996, the Coalition Government has made its interest in amending Australia's media ownership laws clear. It has asked the advice of the [Productivity Commission](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_Commission) and previously introduced the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1534) and the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002 (No 2)](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1924), but neither were passed. The Government restated its commitment to amend these media ownership laws during the [2004 election](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2004), in which it was re-elected. ~~Read more about the background to the bill in its [bills digest].~~ Read more about the background to the bill in its [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032).
representatives vote 2006-10-18#8 Edited by mackay staff on 2015-01-23 10:49:15	Title ~~Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006 — Second Reading~~ Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea Description ~~<p pwmotiontext="moved">That this bill be now read a second time.</p>~~ The majority agreed with the bill's main idea (in parliamentary jargon, they agreed to [read the bill for a second time](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html)). This means that the House can now discuss the bill in more detail. ### Main idea of the bill The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s527) will introduce new laws relating to cross media ownership and foreign media ownership. Specifically, it will permit cross-media [mergers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergers_and_acquisitions) in radio [licence areas](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma) where sufficient diversity of media groups remains following the merger and remove media-specific restrictions on foreign ownership and control. The bill states that there is sufficient diversity of media groups if there are at least five separate media groups in mainland State capitals and at least four groups in other licence areas following any merger activity. ### What are cross media ownership laws? [Under the current law](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032), a person can't control two types of media (including TV, radio and newspaper media) within the same [licence area](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma). For example, one person can't control a commercial television broadcasting licence and a commercial radio broadcasting licence within a particular area. Nor can they control a commercial radio broadcasting licence and a newspaper associated with the area. A person is considered to be in control of the particular type of media if they have interests in the company greater than 15%. ### What are foreign media ownership laws? There are currently [several controls on foreign ownership](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032) of Australian media. For example, there are strict limits on the degree of total foreign interest in newspaper ownership as well as a set limit on the interest of any single foreign shareholder. ### Background to the bill Since it was elected in 1996, the Coalition Government has made its interest in amending Australia's media ownership laws clear. It has asked the advice of the [Productivity Commission](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_Commission) and previously introduced the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1534) and the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002 (No 2)](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1924), but neither were passed. The Government restated its commitment to amend these media ownership laws during the [2004 election](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2004), in which it was re-elected. Read more about the background to the bill in its [bills digest].

Change

Division

representatives vote 2006-10-18#8

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-01-23 11:11:09

Title

Description

The majority agreed with the bill's main idea (in parliamentary jargon, they agreed to [read the bill for a second time](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html)). This means that the House can now discuss the bill in more detail.
### Main idea of the bill
The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s527) will introduce new laws relating to cross media ownership and foreign media ownership. Specifically, it will permit cross-media [mergers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergers_and_acquisitions) in radio [licence areas](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma) where sufficient diversity of media groups remains following the merger and remove media-specific restrictions on foreign ownership and control.
The bill states that there is sufficient diversity of media groups if there are at least five separate media groups in mainland State capitals and at least four groups in other licence areas following any merger activity.
### What are cross media ownership laws?
[Under the current law](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032), a person can't control two types of media (including TV, radio and newspaper media) within the same [licence area](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma). For example, one person can't control a commercial television broadcasting licence and a commercial radio broadcasting licence within a particular area. Nor can they control a commercial radio broadcasting licence and a newspaper associated with the area.
A person is considered to be in control of the particular type of media if they have interests in the company greater than 15%.
### What are foreign media ownership laws?
There are currently [several controls on foreign ownership](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032) of Australian media. For example, there are strict limits on the degree of total foreign interest in newspaper ownership as well as a set limit on the interest of any single foreign shareholder.
### Background to the bill
Since it was elected in 1996, the Coalition Government has made its interest in amending Australia's media ownership laws clear. It has asked the advice of the [Productivity Commission](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_Commission) and previously introduced the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1534) and the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002 (No 2)](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1924), but neither were passed.
The Government restated its commitment to amend these media ownership laws during the [2004 election](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2004), in which it was re-elected.
~~Read more about the background to the bill in its [bills digest].~~
Read more about the background to the bill in its [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032).

representatives vote 2006-10-18#8

Edited by mackay staff

on 2015-01-23 10:49:15

Title

~~Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006 — Second Reading~~
Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea

Description

~~<p pwmotiontext="moved">That this bill be now read a second time.</p>~~
The majority agreed with the bill's main idea (in parliamentary jargon, they agreed to [read the bill for a second time](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html)). This means that the House can now discuss the bill in more detail.
### Main idea of the bill
The [bill](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s527) will introduce new laws relating to cross media ownership and foreign media ownership. Specifically, it will permit cross-media [mergers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mergers_and_acquisitions) in radio [licence areas](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma) where sufficient diversity of media groups remains following the merger and remove media-specific restrictions on foreign ownership and control.
The bill states that there is sufficient diversity of media groups if there are at least five separate media groups in mainland State capitals and at least four groups in other licence areas following any merger activity.
### What are cross media ownership laws?
[Under the current law](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032), a person can't control two types of media (including TV, radio and newspaper media) within the same [licence area](http://www.acma.gov.au/Industry/Broadcast/Spectrum-for-broadcasting/Spectrum-radio-broadcasting/about-licence-areas-spectrum-for-broadcast-acma). For example, one person can't control a commercial television broadcasting licence and a commercial radio broadcasting licence within a particular area. Nor can they control a commercial radio broadcasting licence and a newspaper associated with the area.
A person is considered to be in control of the particular type of media if they have interests in the company greater than 15%.
### What are foreign media ownership laws?
There are currently [several controls on foreign ownership](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd0607/07bd032) of Australian media. For example, there are strict limits on the degree of total foreign interest in newspaper ownership as well as a set limit on the interest of any single foreign shareholder.
### Background to the bill
Since it was elected in 1996, the Coalition Government has made its interest in amending Australia's media ownership laws clear. It has asked the advice of the [Productivity Commission](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Productivity_Commission) and previously introduced the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1534) and the [Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002 (No 2)](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r1924), but neither were passed.
The Government restated its commitment to amend these media ownership laws during the [2004 election](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_federal_election,_2004), in which it was re-elected.
Read more about the background to the bill in its [bills digest].