The chief executives of Australia’s commercial free-to-air TV networks are baffled why the Morrison government has failed to publicly commit to ensuring key sporting moments such as the AFL Grand Final or the Australian Open final remain on free-to-air TV and not behind paywalls.

The Coalition has committed to reviewing the anti-siphoning act, which gives free-to-air broadcasters first bidding rights to major events such as the AFL and NRL, before it expires in April 2023, including if it needs to be extended to streaming services, however has not backed the importance of Australians being able to access free sports content like Labor has.