Sunrise’s Natalie Barr fires up as Anthony Albanese is slammed for ‘trying to take Bluey away from toddlers’ following proposed free-to-air bill change
Natalie Barr has spoken out about Anthony Albanese’s proposed amendments to anti-siphony laws, which have threatened access to free television.
The Federal Government has proposed possible changes to anti-siphony laws that could mean only Australians with a TV antenna have access to free sport.
Senator Jacqui Lambie appeared on Sunrise on Wednesday to condemn the proposed law change, while also warning that the changes could impact children’s TV programs such as the hit ABC show Bluey.
“If you think you can watch Bluey for free, you are fooling yourself,” the politician told presenter Barr.
“Unless you have a subscription to stuff that’s there, you can’t watch it, so that’s really worrying. So now they’re coming after our toddlers.”
Natalie Barr, 53, (pictured) has spoken out about Anthony Albanese’s proposed changes to anti-siphony laws, which have threatened access to free television
‘They have done nothing for our youth. And now you’re coming after our toddlers and taking Bluey away from them, you know?’ she added.
Lambie then branded Albanese’s action ‘disgusting’, before accusing his government of being ‘out of touch’ with the Aussies.
Natalie wasn’t shy about voicing her emphatic support for Lambie’s argument, declaring: “Yes, absolutely!”
Senator Jacqui Lambie, 53, (pictured) appeared on Sunrise on Wednesday to condemn the proposed law change, while also warning that the changes could impact children’s television programs such as the hit ABC show Bluey.
The Communications Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 currently stops companies such as Apple, Amazon and Disney from purchasing the exclusive ‘broadcast rights’ to Australia’s most popular sports, including AFL, NRL and the Olympics.
However, the government’s proposed new bill would protect free access to sport for Australians with an aerial television.
It means millions of Australians who watch sport on free video-on-demand services such as 7plus, 10play and 9Now could be prevented from watching their favorite sports.
“If you think you can watch Bluey for free, you are fooling yourself,” the politician told presenter Barr. (Pictured: an episode of Bluey)
Networks including Seven, Nine and Ten have now done their bit and launched a new advertising campaign titled Free Sport Is On The Line to lobby the government to amend the possible changes to the bill.
“It must recognize that the way people watch sport is changing and extend the changes to the anti-siphony regime to include free streaming,” said Jeff Howard, director and chief executive of Seven West Media.
‘(The problem) is very simple: the bill only guarantees free sports for Australians who have an antenna. It doesn’t guarantee that people will get free sports if they choose to stream them over the internet.
‘No antenna means no access to free sport… the clock is ticking as people increasingly use the internet to watch sport, they will have to pay unless the government intervenes now.’