Fed: FTA will not hurt amount of Aust TV shows: Howard

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2004
Fed: FTA will not hurt amount of Aust TV shows: Howard

CANBERRA, Aug 2 AAP - Australia's free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States
would not hurt the amount of locally made programs shown on Australian television, Prime
Minister John Howard said today.

Some actors, their union and Labor's arts spokeswoman Kate Lundy have voiced concerns
that the FTA posed a threat to the amount of locally produced television shows.

But Mr Howard said there were safeguards in place to ensure locally made programs were protected.

"The agreement contains not only a preservation of the existing local content rules
for free to air television, for example, and some extension of pay TV, but in relation
to the new media we have carved out a reservation that will enable us to adopt local content
rules as the forms of the new media become apparent," he told ABC radio.

Mr Howard also played down fears that Australian television would be swamped with American
voices.

"I don't want to see Australian voices disappear," he said.

"I hate the idea of just American material. But equally I think most Australians now
want a mixture.

"They want high quality Australian programs, but they're not so narrow-minded that
they don't appreciate high quality British and American programs.

"I think we have achieved a balance."

AAP bt/sb/bes/jlw

KEYWORD: US TRADE TV

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.