Mr BILLSON (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence) (9:01 AM) —I move:

The Datacasting Transmitter Licence Fees Bill 2006 is part of the implementation of the government’s media reform policies in relation to the allocation of datacasting transmitter licences covering the two unallocated television channels.

As part of the media reform legislation, provision will be made for the allocation of one set of licences—channel A datacasting transmitter licences—for fixed, in-home, free-to-air digital services, and the other—channel B datacasting transmitter licences—for a potentially wider range of digital services.

The Datacasting Transmitter Licence Fees Bill 2006 will implement the government’s policy objective to require the licence holder of the licences reserved for fixed, in-home, free-to-air services—the channel A licences—to be subject to a revenue based annual licence fee in addition to the up-front payment resulting from a price based allocation system. The annual fee will be determined according to formulae based on the formulae used to calculate commercial television broadcasting licence fees. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate (on motion by Mr Gavan O’Connor) adjourned.