9. CATHERINE DELAHUNTY (Green) Link to this
to the Minister of Broadcasting
Will he ensure accessibility to Rugby World Cup television broadcasts for the Deaf community by requiring captioning on all public channels; and will he remind all broadcasters of their obligations to provide reasonable access for the Deaf community under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Broadcasting) Link to this
Television New Zealand (TVNZ) is the only New Zealand broadcaster that has the ability to carry out the live captioning of matches. It is broadcasting seven Rugby World Cup games live, including the final, semi-finals, the bronze final, two quarter-finals, and the opening match, and all seven will feature live captioning.
Catherine Delahunty Link to this
Will he extend captioning beyond the Rugby World Cup, given that the United States of America has had captioning of all sports games on television since 1982?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
As I said, only TVNZ has the ability to do live captioning. The Government spends $1.9 million a year on captioning for the Deaf community, and in consultation with its members has decided how the money will be spent. So 240 hours a week of prime-time television is broadcast with captioning, and I think that is a pretty satisfactory result.
Melissa LeeWhat reports has he had of calls for greater expenditure on public services in addition to public broadcasting services?
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
I have had reports of a party that wants there to be greater expenditure on a range of public services. Surprisingly, it is the same party that is deeply opposed to free trade, mineral surveys, Resource Management Act reforms, tax reforms, and road building—in fact, just about anything—
Mr SPEAKERI look at the primary question, and I struggle to see how the Minister is telling the House about anything to do with the primary question. The primary question was around accessibility to Rugby World Cup broadcasts for the Deaf community. The member who asked the supplementary question tried to extend that to a question about parties calling for more public expenditure. I accept that the Minister, in his answer, mentioned what the Government spends via TVNZ on captioning, but I do not believe that that is a sufficient reason—I am happy for the member to ask specifically about that issue, but to extend that to a wider question around what other parties might be calling for in terms of wider expenditure simply stretches the Standing Orders too far. I invite Melissa Lee to reword her question.
What reports has he had of calls for greater expenditure on public services in addition to public broadcasting services like captioning?
I cannot see how the Minister of Broadcasting has any responsibility—well, let me not presume. The Minister of Broadcasting is welcome to answer that question in terms of the portfolios for which he is responsible.
Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN Link to this
The point is that that member is calling for there to be more expenditure on public broadcasting, but there is absolutely no plan to pay for it, and that seems to be a consistent theme. That is the answer.
Catherine Delahunty Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. At no point in my question did I call for public expenditure.