Senator FIFIELD (Victoria—Manager of Government Business in the Senate, Minister for Communications, Minister for the Arts and Acting Minister for Regional Communications) (14:47): I think all colleagues welcome great Australian sporting teams and great Australian sporting triumphs. As colleagues—who I know are very keen followers of Australian media law—are aware, it is ultimately a matter for Australian media organisations as to the broadcast rights that they purchase. Obviously, that is qualified to the extent that we have what's known as the anti-siphoning list. The anti-siphoning list is not there to guarantee that certain events will be free to air; it is there to give free-to-air broadcasters—commercial broadcasters—the first rights to purchase those events. I should point out that the anti-siphoning list doesn't mandate that free-to-air commercial TV has to purchase particular events, it doesn't prevent them from onselling them and it doesn't make it mandatory that they in any way seek to acquire those events. I just thought I'd provide that context for the way sporting rights operate in Australia. Colleagues would be aware that recently a majority of us in this place together moved to update and reform Australia's media laws. Part of that was to have a sensible renovation of the anti-siphoning list. The PRESIDENT: A point of order, Senator McAllister? Senator McAllister: The minister has provided relevant context, but he has yet to answer my question. I asked him whether he agreed that the event was of a kind the televising of which should be available free to the general public. Senator Ian Macdonald: Mr President, on the point of order: could I just say that the minister should also have referred to the Townsville Fire women's basketball team, which should also be broadcast nationally. The PRESIDENT: Senator Macdonald, please take your seat. Senator McAllister, as you know, I can't direct a minister how to answer a question. I believe the minister is being relevant to the question. I draw his attention to the question. Senator Fifield. Senator FIFIELD: The point I'm making is that government doesn't mandate which particular platforms events are on. It is a matter for particular media organisations to determine what is free to air and what is not. The PRESIDENT: Senator McAllister, a supplementary question.