Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Journals of the Senate, 7 December 2017, pp. 2512–14.

[2]        Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills, Scrutiny Digest, No. 1 of 2018, February 2018, pp. 14–15.

[3]        Explanatory Memorandum (EM), p. 2.

[4]        The EM notes that civic journalism 'has the primary purpose of investigating and explaining public policy and issues of public interest or significance with the aim of engaging citizens in public debate and informing democratic decision making'. EM, p. 2.

[5]        EM, p. 8.

[6]        This reform was given effect by the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Act 2017. The amendments that gave effect to this reform were considered by this committee as part of two inquiries conducted in 2016 into the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Media Reform) Bill 2016.

[7]        Senate Hansard, 22 June 2017, pp. 4771–72.

[8]        The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP and Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, 'A new era for Australia's media', Media release, 14 September 2017.

[9]        This reform was given effect by the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Act 2017. The amendments that gave effect to this reform were considered by this committee as part of two inquiries conducted in 2016 into the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Media Reform) Bill 2016.

[10]      This change was introduced by the Commercial Broadcasting (Tax) Act 2017.

[11]      It is intended that the new gambling promotions restrictions will be applied to broadcasting services via amendments to relevant industry codes of practice, and that the restrictions will be applied to online content services by the Communications Legislation Amendment (Online Content Services and Other Measures) Bill 2017. At the time of writing, that bill is before the Senate and is being examined by a separate inquiry conducted by this committee.

[12]      This reform was given effect by the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Broadcasting Reform) Act 2017.

[13]      This measure is proposed by the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Foreign Media Ownership and Community Radio) Bill 2017, which at the time of writing is before the Senate.

[14]      These proposed measures are contained in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Measures) Bill 2017, which at the time of writing is before the Senate and is being examined by a separate inquiry conducted by this committee. These measures respond to this committee's report on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Bill 2015, which is a private senator's bill introduced by Senator Bridget McKenzie. The committee's report on Senator McKenzie's bill was presented in April 2017.

[15]      These measures are contained in the National Broadcasters Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Transparency) Bill 2017, which at the time of writing is before the Senate.

[16]      This change is proposed in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Fair and Balanced) Bill 2017. At the time of writing, this bill is before the Senate and is being examined by a separate inquiry conducted by this committee.

[17]      This measure is proposed in the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Foreign Media Ownership and Community Radio) Bill 2017, which at the time of writing is before the Senate.

[18]      The term 'content service provider' relies on the term used for Schedule 7 of the BSA, which excludes, among other services, licensed broadcasting services.

[19]      Proposed new sections 205ZH(2) and 205ZJ.

[20]      The Department of Communications and the Arts has advised that the Fund is intended to assist 'regional and small publishers that are not aligned or associated with any group that may have an interest in specific policy or legislative outcomes'. Department of Communications and the Arts, Answers to questions on notice, Supplementary Budget Estimates 2017–18, No. 94.

[21]      EM, p. 7; Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 5.

[22]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 5.

[23]      Proposed new section 205ZH.

[24]      EM, p. 7. Section 53 of the Constitution stipulates that 'proposed laws appropriating revenue or moneys, or imposing taxation, shall not originate in the Senate'.

[25]      Australian Government, Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2017–18, December 2017, p. 139.

Chapter 2 - Key issues

[1]        Deakin University, Submission 2, p. 2.

[2]        Deakin University, Submission 2, p. 1.

[3]        Schwartz Media and Schwartz Publishing, Submission 9, p. 1.

[4]        The Walkley Foundation, Submission 5, pp. 2, 4.

[5]        In particular, the CPA highlighted the need to support young adults from school into long-term employment in the sector, which it argued could be achieved through measures such as taxation rebates or wage support. Country Press Australia, Submission 4, pp. 1–2.

[6]        SBS, Submission 6, pp. 1–4.

[7]        Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Submission 1, p. 6. Evidence detailing these concerns and indicating preferences among Indigenous Australians regarding how to access news is outlined in pages 5–9 of the submission.

[8]        Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Submission 1, p. 5.

[9]        Guardian Australia, Submission 7, pp. 1–3.

[10]      Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Submission 8, pp. 2, 7.

[11]      Explanatory Memorandum (EM), p. 7.

[12]      Country Press Australia, Submission 4, p. 2.

[13]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, pp. 9–10.

[14]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 3.

[15]      EM, p. 7.

[16]      Guardian Australia, Submission 7, p. 3.

[17]      Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Submission 8, p. 3.

[18]      Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield, Senate Hansard, 14 September 2017, pp. 7352–53.

[19]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 9.

[20]      Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Submission 1, p. 10.

[21]      Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Submission 1, pp. 7–9 (emphasis omitted). A survey undertaken in 2016 of news sources accessed by remote Indigenous communities revealed that local Indigenous community radio news was accessed the most (61 per cent of respondents), followed by NITV News (58 per cent), ABC TV News (52 per cent), CAAMA News (51 per cent), newspapers (27 per cent) and online (1 per cent). Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Remote Indigenous Communications and Media Survey, November 2016; cited in Indigenous Remote Communications Association,  Submission 1, p. 9.

[22]      Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Submission 1, p. 10.

[23]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 9.

[24]      Schwartz Media and Schwartz Publishing, Submission 9, pp. 1–2.

[25]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, pp. 2, 5.

[26]      EM, p. 8.

[27]      EM, p. 9.

[28]      Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Submission 8, p. 3.

[29]      Australian Press Council, Submission 3, p. 3.

[30]      The Walkley Foundation, Submission 5, p. 4.

[31]      Deakin University, Submission 2, p. 2.

[32]      Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Submission 1, p. 11.

[33]      Department of Communications and the Arts, Answer to question on notice, Supplementary Budget Estimates 2017–18, No. 94.

[34]      Indigenous Remote Communications Association, Submission 1, p. 11.

[35]      Deakin University, Submission 2, p. 2.

[36]      Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Submission 8, p. 3.

[37]      Ms Jennifer McNeill, General Manager, Content Consumer and Citizen Division, Australian Communications and Media Authority, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 4.

[38]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 4.

[39]      Mr James Penprase, Director, Industry Section, Department of Communications and the Arts, Proof Committee Hansard, 1 February 2018, p. 4.