Election 2010: Conroy's media sector overhaul

James Riley
Thursday, 29 July 2010 17:18

IT Policy - Regulation

The Gillard Government will conduct a top-to-bottom review of the media sector in the context of "converged communication" if re-elected, including a look at regulations for media ownership, free to air television, local content, and anti-siphoning provisions across the full range of digital platforms.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told an Australian Information Industry Association luncheon in Melbourne that the regulatory provisions governing the media sector would need an overhaul in the wake of technology developments like the national broadband network rollout and the switchover to digital television.

The long-heralded foreshadows the biggest shake-up to rules governing the media sector since the introduction of television.

"The Government's policies and actions, particularly in creating the NBN and pursuing the switch to digital only television, have rapidly accelerated the arrival of the convergent media age in Australia, after years of delay," Senator Conroy said.

"As a result, Australia's communications regulations are rapidly becoming outdated."

"If re-elected, the Labor Government will move to commence a comprehensive review of communications regulation," the Minister said.

"This type of review would consider all media platforms including free TV subscriptions, video on demand, IPTV and mobile TV."

The review, and long-proposed regulatory changes have far reaching implications for publishers, broadcasters, content owners and digital entrepreneurs, and will potentially be the biggest media sector shake-up in three decades.

He said the review would identify appropriate licensing, regulatory obligations and consumer protection arrangements across all platforms.

"Issues such as audience reach rules for television broadcasters and Australian content obligations, will all need to be re-visited," Senator Conroy said.

"The objective of protecting local content must remain at the centre of our approach to regulatory reform, but as international content competes ever more fiercely for Australian audiences, we must look at how we can continue to deliver that content in the future."