Senator SANDY MACDONALD (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence) (1:30 PM) —These bills are part of the implementation of the government’s media reform policies in relation to the allocation of datacasting transmitter licences for the two unallocated television channels. They are part of the raft of reforms so cleverly and competently developed by Minister Coonan. These changes will revolutionise the television viewing experience in Australia and add to the wide range of services now available to Australian consumers. The government has undertaken this task in a way that promotes a smooth transition from analog to digital. These bills are a small but important part of the government’s media reform package and they will allow for the emergence of a range of new services for Australian consumers as we head towards the digital switch-over. I commend the bills to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bills read a second time.