Chairperson, common good is undoubtedly best served by a free flow of information. It is a vital function and indeed a duty of the press and other media to make available information and analyses about every aspect of public, political, social and economic activity.

The media has played a crucial role in exposing crime, corruption, mismanagement and nepotism, both in the public and the private spheres. In view of this, the obvious question is: How did the Films and Publications Amendment Bill pass through Cabinet considering its serious constitutional flaws, particularly in relation to Icasa's jurisdiction?

Clearly, the removal of the exemption for broadcasters infringes upon the constitutional domain of Icasa. Icasa is the regulator for broadcasting, and not the Films and Publications Board. At the very least though, following the intervention of Parliament, Icasa's unfettered constitutional jurisdiction over broadcasters has been reinstated.

We, as the ACDP, trust that the NCOP will consider the ACDP's proposal to reinstate total exemptions for the print media and broadcasters, with the media being subject to criminal sanctions related to child pornography. Notwithstanding the above, the ACDP will support this Budget Vote. I thank you.

Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance dissenting).

Vote No 26 - Environmental Affairs and Tourism - put and agreed to. Vote No 27 - Housing - put.

Declarations of vote: