The content on this page and other DCITA document archive pages is provided to assist research and may contain references to activities or policies that have no current application. See the full archive disclaimer.
Appendix 10 - Parliamentary committees
The Department's involvement in the following Parliamentary committees ranged from preparing or providing input to Government responses, appearing before and/or making written submissions to the committees.
Senate Select Committee on Information Technologies
In the Public Interest-Monitoring Australia's Media
|
Tabled: 13 April 2000 |
No Government Response to date |
The report questions the efficiency and effectiveness of self-regulation and co-regulation in the communication and information industries, and, in particular, the adequacy of the complaints regime.
The Committee made five recommendations suggesting that an independent statutory authority, the Media Complaints Commission (MCC), be established to oversee the various existing bodies and processes that currently regulate television, radio, press news and the Internet.
The proposed MCC would:
- provide more effective enforcement of self-regulatory codes;
- protect an individual's right to privacy;
- increase awareness of the complaints process; and
- function as the final adjudicatory body for complaints allowing it to impose sanctions in addition to those that currently exist.
The Government deferred responding to this report while the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) investigations into the disclosure requirements of commercial radio broadcasters continues. The Government expects to respond during the next financial year.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications,Transport and the Arts
Local Voices: Inquiry into Regional Radio
|
Tabled: 24 September 2001 |
No Government Response to date |
Two themes-access and content-dominated the inquiry and were the focus of the Committee's Report. The report addressed the issues of access and diversity of services and the commercial viability of local radio. It considered the networking of radio services and its effect on the availability of local programming.
The role of radio in emergency situations and the implications of digital radio for regional services were also considered. The report followed on from the Committee's previous inquiry into regional radio racing services.
The Committee concluded that radio services have undergone considerable changes in recent years as a result of regulatory, economic and technological developments. This has affected the range, nature and quality of services for listeners and has changed the environment in which service providers operate.
The Committee made 20 recommendations relating to a range of issues, including:
- establishment of a Radio Black Spots Program;
- improved access to commercial radio in remote locations;
- improved access for Indigenous and radio for the print handicapped;
- employment and training scheme for community broadcasting;
- broadcasters to identify originating source of programming;
- ABA to conduct an audit of licence areas to determine degree to which planning process provided for localism and diversity and to issue no further commercial licences until the audit is completed;
- introduction of a commercial viability test in the consideration of whether to issue new commercial licences;
- legislative change to address the role of radio in emergency situations; and
- trials of digital services in regional/remote areas and of range of terrestrial and satellite applications.
Many of the recommendations have already been acted upon. The Government expects to finalise the response to the Report in the next few months.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Transport and the Arts
Covering your Arts-Art Indemnity in Australia
|
Tabled: 24 September 2001 |
Government Response: 5 December 2002 |
The Report examines Art Indemnity Australia (AIA), an Australian Government program through which items loaned for major cultural exhibitions are indemnified against loss or damage.
The Committee endorsed the current operation of the scheme and made recommendations that focused on:
- the practice of underwriting AIA risk with Comcover insurance;
- strengthening relations between the national organisations that manage AIA indemnified exhibitions and State and Territory cultural institutions; and
- maximising the geographic spread of exhibitions indemnified by AIA.
The Government's response commented that the Report was a comprehensive and valuable document, and as a result the majority of the recommendations were accepted. The Government did not accept the Report's first recommendation, which suggested that the practice of underwriting AIA risk with Comcover insurance should be abandoned. The Government determined that this would leave the Commonwealth exposed to an unacceptable level of uninsured risk.
Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee
Above Board? Methods of Appointment to the ABC Board
|
Tabled: 25 September 2001 |
Government Response: 29 August 2002 |
The inquiry considered the development and implementation of options for methods of appointment to the Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Members of the Committee gave four different reports. The report of the Chair, Senator Lyn Allison, proposed a series of reforms to the method of appointment, including the establishment of selection criteria for Board positions, the use of formal applications for positions and the use of an independent selection panel to make recommendations to the Minister. Senator Bob Brown supported most of the Chair's recommendations but believed that the British model for appointments should be adopted.
A minority report from Labor Senators noted that no evidence was provided indicating politicisation of the ABC Board and that it was not clear that any changes mooted in the Chair's report would remove the perception of politicisation. They argued that further examination of the issue is required and that, in the meantime, selection criteria should be developed for incoming Board members.
The report of the Government Senators found that the inquiry did not clearly establish that there is a problem with the current approach to Board appointments, nor that there is a strong argument for differentiating the method of appointing ABC Board Directors from the approach taken for other Commonwealth agencies.
In its response the Government stated that the Committee failed to establish any clear argument for the need to change the method of appointment to the ABC Board nor why it should be differentiated from other Commonwealth agencies. The Government does not support any of the recommendations put forward by the Committee in the Chair's report (except for the retention of the staff-elected Director).
Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee
Report on Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002
|
Tabled: 18 June 2002 |
Responded with amendments to Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002 |
The Bill repeals restrictions on foreign ownership and control of Australian media in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA). It also provides for exemptions to be granted from cross-media ownership restrictions subject to applicants continuously meeting requirements for separate editorial decision-making responsibilities and, in the case of regional broadcasters, minimum levels of local news and information services.
The Committee recommended that the Senate support the Bill, provided that four conditions were satisfied. These were that:
- media companies operating under a cross-media exemption certificate be required to disclose relevant cross-media holdings when reporting on issues or matters related to those holdings;
- following receipt of the Australian Broadcasting Authority's report into local news and information in regional Australia, the Government consider extending requirements for the provision of local news and information to all regional broadcasters, not just those operating under a cross-media exemption certificate. The Committee noted such an approach should have regard to both regional communities' access to local news and information services and the financial viability of the requirements for regional broadcasters;
- in regional markets, cross-media exemptions be restricted to ensure that a media company could achieve cross-ownership in only two of the three generic categories of newspapers, radio and television; and
- the Government investigate the feasibility of providing appropriate incentives for regional media to provide local content, such as licence fee rebates.
A dissenting report was also tabled.
The Government introduced amendments to the Bill in the House of Representatives on 15 October 2002 to address some of the Committee's concerns. The amendments passed the House on the same day. The amendments included a requirement on commercial television and radio broadcasters and newspapers to disclose a cross-media relationship, and a limit on cross-media ownership in regional areas to two of the three types of media (commercial television, radio and newspapers).
The Bill was introduced in the Senate on 23 October 2002, and debated in June 2003.
Following debate and amendment in the Senate, the House of Representatives laid the Bill aside on 26 June 2003 after rejecting some of the Senate's amendments (although those related to the Committee's recommendations were retained).
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Connecting Australia! Wireless broadband
|
Tabled: 11 November 2002 |
No Government Response to date |
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts' Inquiry into Wireless Broadband Technologies was established on 24 March 2002. The purpose of the Inquiry was to investigate and report on the current and potential use of wireless technologies to provide broadband communication services in Australia, including regional Australia. The Committee released its report, Connecting Australia! Wireless Broadband, on 11 November 2002.
The report made 14 recommendations aimed at improving take-up of wireless broadband in Australia, covering spectrum access and coordination; carrier licensing exemptions; wireless access in regional Australia; access for the hearing impaired; national security; education and training; and Australian Communications Authority (ACA)-Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) coordination. While the Committee examined a range of wireless technologies, its report and recommendations focused particularly on wireless local area networks.
The Government is finalising its response to the report and expects to table it shortly.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Inquiry into the needs of urban dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
|
Tabled: 24 September 2001 |
Government Response: 18 September 2002 |
The Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs coordinated the Government response to this report. The Department did not make a formal submission to this Inquiry. The Department provided input to the Government response in April 2002.
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child-17th Report
|
Tabled: 28 August 1988 |
Government Response: March 2003 |
The Attorney-General's Department was responsible for the coordination of the Government response to this report. The Department provided input to the Government response.
Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Reference Committee
Inquiry into Electromagnetic Radiation
|
Tabled: 4 May 2001 |
Government Response: 6 February 2003 |
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, in the Health Portfolio, coordinated the preparation of the Government response to this report. The Department provided input to the development of the response during the period September to December 2002.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs
Cracking down on copycats: enforcement of copyright in Australia
|
Tabled: 4 December 2000 |
Government Response: 25 June 2003 |
The Attorney-General's Department was responsible for coordinating the Government response to this report. The Department previously provided a written submission but did not appear before the Committee. Much of the Government's response was implemented in copyright enforcement amendments included in the Copyright Amendment (Parallel Importation) Act 2003 No. 34, 2003.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Inquiry into the future opportunities for Australia's film, animation, special effects and electronic games industries
Officials from the Department, the Australian Film Commission and the National Office for the Information Economy appeared before the Committee at a private hearing on 6 May 2003.
Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee
Inquiry into the Provisions of the Telecommunications Competition Bill 2002
|
Tabled: |
2 December 2002 |
The Department appeared before the Committee on 22 and 25 October 2002.
Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit
Inquiry into the Draft Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill
The Department appeared before the Committee on 7 March 2003 and made written submissions in relation to the provisions of the Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill affecting DCITA Special Accounts.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Inquiry into the Structure of Telstra
In February 2003, the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, together with the Department of Finance and Administration, made a written submission to the Inquiry into the structure of Telstra. The Committee did not hold public hearings.
Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories
Inquiry into Pay Parking in the Parliamentary Zone
Old Parliament House and the National Portrait Gallery made a written submission to the Inquiry. Representatives of Old Parliament House, the National Portrait Gallery and the Old Parliament House Volunteers' Committee appeared before the Inquiry's public hearings on 9 May 2003.
Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Inquiry into Australia's Relationship with Indonesia
The Department provided a written submission on 31 October 2002, which included contributions from the Department, the Australian Sports Commission and ScreenSound Australia.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
Inquiry into Capacity Building in Indigenous Communities
The Department provided a written submission in September 2002.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration
Inquiry into Local Government and Cost Shifting
The Department provided a background paper on 1 August 2002 providing details of the activities undertaken by the Department in relation to local Government.