ABC and SBS

The majority agreed that the Minister representing the Minister for Communications gives the Senate a copy of Mr Peter Lewis’s efficiency review of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ('ABC') and Special Broadcasting Service ('SBS') (in parliamentary jargon, they agreed the review should be 'laid on the table'). This was proposed by Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

Text of the motion

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) on 31 January 2014, the Minister for Communications announced an efficiency review of both national broadcasters, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), to be conducted by Mr Peter Lewis, and

(i) despite the potentially serious ramifications of the Lewis report for the ABC and SBS, the Government has to date failed to make the report available for public consideration; and

(b) orders that there be laid on the table, by the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, no later than 2 pm on Monday, 1 September 2014, a copy of Mr Lewis’s efficiency review of the ABC and SBS.