Key sporting events must be protected

The Australian Greens may move to disallow the anti-siphoning list when Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy tables it in Parliament next week.

There is speculation that key AFL matches, the Australian Open Tennis and even Olympic events may be removed from the list of sporting events that must be screened first on free-to-air TV and protected from being "siphoned" off by Pay TV.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said he had significant concerns regarding free-to-air coverage of key sporting events.

Key sporting events must be protected

The Australian Greens may move to disallow the anti-siphoning list when Minister for Communications Stephen Conroy tables it in Parliament next week.

There is speculation that key AFL matches, the Australian Open Tennis and even Olympic events may be removed from the list of sporting events that must be screened first on free-to-air TV and protected from being "siphoned" off by Pay TV.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said he had significant concerns regarding free-to-air coverage of key sporting events.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown said he was honoured to be inducting Australian singer John Williamson into the ARIA Hall of Fame tonight.

Senator Brown said John Williamson was a True Blue environmentalist.

"John put his career on the line for Australia's wild and scenic natural heritage including its stunning forests," said Senator Brown.

"How fabulous that Rip Rip Woodchip, the song that was banned from some places, is now in the ABC's song book for schools.

"In Tasmania under an emerging agreement magnificent forests are about to be protected.

Polling commissioned by the Australian Greens shows overwhelming support for new laws to prevent misleading election advertising.

The national Galaxy poll of 1009 people taken in July shows 91% of Australians are in favour of legislation that would require political parties to be truthful in election advertising. 

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said that he would move in the next Parliament to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act to make it an offence to publish or distribute misleading and inaccurate election advertising.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has condemned the use of misleading how-to-vote cards directing Family First voters to preference Labor during the South Australian election.

Senator Brown noted a range of misleading Labor materials used in the lead up to both state elections over the weekend, from television advertisements attacking SA Liberal leader Isobel Redmond to automated calls in Tasmania to undermine the Greens.

"The use of unscrupulous tactics to mislead voters highlights again the need for federal truth in advertising laws," said Senator Brown.

Senator Bob Brown (Tasmania) asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 17 November 2009:

For 2009 in Tasmania, how much Australian Broadcasting Corporation television and radio news time and other coverage was given to the annual state conferences of the:

(a)Australian Labor Party;
(b)the Liberal Party of Australia; and
(c)the Australian Greens.

The Senate has today passed a Greens' motion calling on the government to reverse a decision to close the offices of the National Archives in Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said: "The government should properly consult with the public before closing down valuable public assets such as these. All Australians should have access to the collections in their home state or territory. Researchers in Tasmania, South Australia or the Northern Territory are no less valuable to the preservation of our history and culture."