Howard's Datacasting Plan at Risk

Date: 12 April 2000

The Productivity Commission Report tabled in the Parliament today has concluded that the Government's digital TV conversion plan is at serious risk of failure unless significant changes are made.

The Commission calls for substantial relaxation of the Government's restrictions on datacasting.

The Commissions says at pages 14 and 15 of its report:

"The benefits of digital television can be enhanced if restrictions on datacasting content are relaxed...

"The Government's current policy proscribes certain services and restricts content... This policy stifles competition and innovation...restrictions on datacasting, multichannelling and interactive services will be costly to Australian consumers and businesses alike. They will delay consumer adoption of digital technology and deprive business of opportunities to develop new products and services for the world...They could have a particularly severe effect on regional consumers..."

Shadow Minister for Communications, Stephen Smith, today welcomed the tabling of the report a matter of days before the scheduled introduction of the Government's conversion to digital TV legislation.

The Government's legislation, which was foreshadowed in its announced decision in December last year, will be subject to scrutiny and Senate committee inquiry during its passage through the Parliament.

The Commission's report bolsters Labor's argument that the Government's proposed datacasting regime is too restrictive, and runs the risk of stifling a new industry before it has even begun.

For further information

Contact:	Patrick Bindon
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Phone:	0418 694 878
WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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