Mr L R JOHNSON (HUGHES, NEW SOUTH WALES) son asked the Treasurer, upon notice -

1.   What amount of revenue was obtained during 1957-58 from (a) sales tax and (b) registration fees, in respect of television receivers, and (c) miscellaneous items associated with television?

2.   What amount was expended by the Government during the same year on the operation or development of television?

Sir Arthur Fadden - The answers to the honorable member's questions are as follows: - 1. (a) It is impossible to state precisely the amount of sales tax collected in 1957-58 in respect of television receivers because many sales tax returns do not show details of sales of specific commodities. (b) The revenue received from television viewers' licence-fees was £1,389,055. (c) Miscellaneous revenue includes licence-fees paid by television stations £7,327 and a portion of fines amounting to £29,324 imposed under the Broadcasting and Television Act.

2.   Expenditure on the operation of national television stations in. 1957-58 was £1,557,529. In the same year the Government spent £975,847 on the development of the national television service.