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Has the Minister for Communications, Senator Conroy denied the Labor Party’s opposition to the interruption of SBS-TV programs for advertisements?
Responding to Senator Scott Ludlum (Greens) in a recent Senate Committee hearing, Senator Conroy suggested that statements he made before the 2007 election, which had severely criticized SBS management for interrupting programs for commercial breaks, “Labor has opposed and continues to oppose the decision by SBS to introduce in-program advertising” were not official Labor policy, but simply his “opinion”. According to the Hansard transcript:
Senator LUDLAM- But it was not government policy at the time; it was just an opinion?
Senator Conroy- It was an opinion . . .
[and later]
Senator LUDLAM- . . . you just opposed it on principle at the time?
Senator Conroy- Yes.
However separate emails from Kevin Rudd, the ALP campaign office and Senator Conroy himself all make it clear that this was the considered policy of the Labor Party as a whole.
Labor’s campaign office took the view that this was Labor policy. In an email dated 14 November 2007, under the heading Labor’s SBS Policy, campaign headquarters wrote “Labor has opposed and continues to oppose the decision by SBS to introduce in-program advertising.” See ALP email here.
A week later Senator Conroy, also under the heading Labor’s SBS Policy, wrote “Labor has opposed and continues to oppose the decision by SBS to introduce in-program advertising.” See Conroy email here.
A few days later Kevin Rudd, also under the heading Labor’s SBS Policy repeated exactly the same words. Mr Rudd did not suggest that this was simply Senator Conroy’s opinion. In his email Mr Rudd also made it clear that it was Labor Party policy. This was one day before the election. See Rudd email here.
This is not simply an issue of Senator Conroy’s credibility. It is also reflects on Kevin Rudd and the government as a whole.
For a detailed a background report click to read:
No ad breaks on SBS part 2: Minister denies policy
