Joint Select Committee on Broadcasting Legislation

On 14 March 2013 the Parliament of Australia established a Joint Select Committee to inquire into and report on potential areas for further reform of Australia’s broadcasting legislation.

The Committee was established under a resolution of appointment passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on 14 March 2013. The specific terms of reference of the Committee, as per the resolution of appointment, are:

To inquire into and report on potential areas for further reform of Australia’s broadcasting legislation, with particular reference to:

(a) the abolition of the 75 per cent rule, particularly in relation to regional and local news;

(b) whether the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) should be required to examine program supply agreements for news and current affairs when determining whether a person is in control of a commercial television broadcasting service; and

(c) on-air reporting of ACMA findings regarding Broadcasting regulation breaches.

On 24 June 2013, the Committee tabled its report Three Broadcasting Reform Proposals. The tabling of the report concludes the work of the Committee and the Committee has now been dissolved.