Budget gives comms and media regulator another $16.3m

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 09 May 2007 08:13

IT Policy - Regulation

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will receive an additional $16.3 million over four years bringing the total funding for ACMA to more than $360 million over four years.

For the 2006-2007 financial year the ACMA previously received the combined funding of its predecessors, the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) and the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) $79.5 million in 2006-07.

Communications minister, senator Helen Coonan, said: "the additional funding will ensure that ACMA is adequately resourced to carry out its vital role as the regulator in the increasingly complex and converged communications environment."

The additional funding is the result of a review of the ACMA's current and future funding requirements and current and likely future activities. It found that, while there had been "significant efficiencies" gained through the merger of the ABA and the ACA, the expansion of the communications sector and the development of new communications services and technologies had led to increased activity in the sector and growing consumer and industry expectations of the regulator.

A priority application for the additional funding will be to pay a comprehensive upgrade of the ACMA's IT systems. In a statement the minister said: "This upgrade is an important component in developing the common infrastructure, business process and systems needed to enable ACMA to operate as a single merged organisation. It will also ensure the continued effective and efficient planning and licensing of communications services for Australia's first converged communications regulator.