Communications Minister Helen Coonan has welcomed the debate of the digital radio legislation in the Parliament this week, but has hit back at Simon Crean (see other story), claiming Labor is confused about digital radio.

Senator Coonan says:

“Labor again today demonstrated its ignorance of digital broadcasting and the significant benefits it will bring to Australians everywhere.”

“Not content to abolish Digital Australia – the body set up to ensure that all Australians can gain access to digital television, Simon Crean and Stephen Conroy also want to delay indefinitely the introduction of digital radio.”

Coonan thinks it is “disappointing” that the Labor Party is making attempts to defer the legislation until trials of another platform, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), are complete.

Rural and regional Australia won’t miss out on digital, according to Coonan, who says that too little is known about the appropriate technologies for delivery of digital radio in these areas for it to be prescribed in legislation at this time.

“The Labor party’s claim that rural and regional areas will miss out when digital radio broadcasts begin in Australia demonstrates its ignorance of digital broadcasting… Labor fails to understand that this legislation will also provide for the future introduction of digital radio in rural and regional areas.”

Emphasising the Governments commitment to digital radio Coonan stated.

“This Government is not prepared to hold back from Australians access to digital services. Whilst Mr Crean and Senator Conroy may be content to linger in the analogue age, this Government continues to focus on moving forward into the exciting world of digital.”