27th Mar 2018, 1:21 PM – Senate Communications Legislation Amendment (Online Content Services and Other Measures) Bill 2017 - in Committee - Exempt SBS (second)

The same number of senators voted for and against an amendment introduced by NSW Senator Deborah O'Neill (Labor), which means it failed.

This was the second time this vote was taken. It was repeated at the request of WA Senator Jordon Steele-John (Greens).

What does this amendment do?

Senator O'Neill explained that:

What Labor's amendment does is preserve parliament's intent with respect to the SBS being a broadcaster that's independent of the government, and it maintains the status quo, whereby SBS services on television, radio and online are regulated by the SBS Codes of Practice 2014 (revised 2016). It's really very simple. Labor's amendment means that the SBS will be subject to additional restrictions on gambling promotions during live sport, just like everybody else. But, instead of being regulated by ACMA rules under this bill, SBS will be regulated by the SBS Codes of Practice.

Labor's amendment simply corrects the wrong-headed approach in this bill, which would include SBS in a regulatory regime that would, quite improperly, make the regulation of SBS content a matter of discretion for the Australian Communications and Media Authority. With all due respect to the ACMA, that is simply not the intent of parliament when it comes to the SBS.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 1, item 22, page 18 (after line 25), after paragraph 3(1)(q), insert:

(qa) a service provided by the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation; or