Recommendation 1
The committee recommends that the ABC and SBS be funded
adequately, so that they can deliver on their charter obligations, support
rural and regional service provision and have a strong fact checking capacity.
Recommendation 2
The committee recommends that the Commonwealth provide
additional surety in future funding for the community broadcasting sector
beyond the forward estimates, in particular what component will be set aside
for training and education, and ensure that the sector is fully consulted in
the national rollout of digital services.
Recommendation 3
6.85 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth work with the states and territories
through the Council of Australian Governments to determine how areas of the
Australian Curriculum may be improved regarding digital media awareness and
media literacy.
Recommendation 4
7.86 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth develop and implement a framework
for extending deductible gift recipient (DGR) status to not-for-profit news
media organisations in Australia that adhere to appropriate standards of
practice for public interest journalism.
Recommendation 5
7.87 The
committee recommends that the Treasury undertake cost-benefit modelling on
extending the tax deductible status of news media subscriptions to all
Australians, not just those who can already claim the cost of subscriptions
through existing income tax arrangements, for subscriptions to news media
organisations in Australia that adhere to appropriate standards of practice for
public interest journalism.
Recommendation 6
7.93 The
committee recommends that the Australian Law Reform Commission conduct an audit
of current laws that impact on journalists reporting on matters that touch on
or focus on national security and border protection, to identify and analyse
unjustifiably harsh or draconian laws, inconsistencies in the law and any lack
of clarity in the law regulating the work of journalists in this context, and
to consider whether further reform is needed to achieve an appropriate balance
between the need to preserve national security and the need for journalists to
be able to carry out their work in the public
interest.
Recommendation 7
7.97 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth work with state and territory
jurisdictions through the Council of Australian Governments to complete a
review of Australian defamation laws, and subsequently develop and implement
any recommendations for harmonisation and reform, with a view to promoting
appropriate balance between public interest journalism and protection of
individuals from reputational harm.
Recommendation 8
7.102 The
committee recommends that the Commonwealth look at ways to expand whistleblower
and shield law protections, and to harmonise those laws between the
Commonwealth and state and territory jurisdictions, noting the work in this
area already underway.
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