ACT Senator Kate Lundy today welcomed the release by the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) of the terms of reference for their inquiry into the adequacy of local television news and information programs in regional Australia.
The ACT region has been particularly affected by the loss of two regional news services this year, with both 10 Capital and Prime cancelling their Canberra news services.
The ABA inquiry provides the people of the ACT and region with an opportunity to make their views known about the declining diversity of television news services.
According to the ABA, their inquiry will focus on what “is meant by local significance, what constitutes adequate coverage of local news and information, and how commercial television services could contribute to the appropriate coverage of matters of local significance in regional and rural Australia.”
The ABA is justified in its concern about television coverage of issues of local significance.
Diversity of news services is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy, and although the ACT is well serviced by the new local ABC television news and WIN news, the loss of two local news services is having an impact on the coverage of local events and issues.
I urge anyone concerned about the state of local news coverage in the ACT and surrounding regions to either contact the ABA on their new e-mail hotline, news.investigation@aba.gov.au, or send in a formal submission, which must be received by Friday 15 February 2001 to:
News Investigation
Australian Broadcasting Authority
PO Box Q500
Queen Victoria Building
Sydney NSW 1230
Click here for the Terms of reference.
Media contact: Simon Tatz on 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
Australian Broadcasting Authority
Investigation pursuant to Part 13 Division 2 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 – Adequacy of Local News and Information Programs on Commercial Television Services in Regional and Rural Australia
Terms of Reference
The Australian Broadcasting Authority (the ABA) has decided to conduct an investigation pursuant to Part 13 Division 2 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act) into:
i. The adequacy of the contribution by commercial television broadcasting licensees in regional and rural Australia to coverage of matters of local significance;
ii. Community concerns about whether coverage of local news and information by commercial television services is responsive to audience needs in regional and rural Australia; and
iii. The adequacy of the current regulatory framework to meet the objects of the Act.
The Investigation will be conducted by the ABA in accordance with its functions and powers under the Act.
The objects of the Act relevant to this Investigation are:
(a) to promote the availability to audiences throughout Australia of a diverse range of radio and television services offering entertainment, education and information; and
(b) to provide a regulatory environment that will facilitate the development of a broadcasting industry in Australia that is efficient, competitive and responsive to audience needs; and
(g) to encourage providers of commercial and community broadcasting services to be responsive to the need for a fair and accurate coverage of matters of public interest and for an appropriate coverage of matters of local significance.
The Act confers on the ABA a range of functions and powers that are to be used in a manner that, in the opinion of the ABA, will produce regulatory arrangements that are stable and predictable, and deal effectively with breaches of the rules established by the Act.
The Investigation will be conducted for the purposes of the performance of the ABA’s functions, which include the following primary functions:
(c )to allocate, renew, suspend and cancel licences and to take other enforcement action under the
(i) to monitor compliance with codes of practice;
(j) to develop program standards relating to broadcasting in Australia;
(m) to inform itself and advise the Minister on technological advances and service trends in the broadcasting and the datacasting industry; and
(n) to monitor, and to report to the Minister on, the operation of this Act.
In conducting the Investigation, the ABA will have regard to:
i. The nature and extent of local news and information programs provided by commercial television broadcasting licensees in regional and rural Australia, and how these have changed over time;
ii. The level of community concern about changes by commercial television broadcasting licensees to their coverage of local news and information in regional and rural Australia;
iii. Local news and information programs in regional and rural Australia provided by other terrestrial free-to-air broadcasting services;
iv. The financial and other capacity of commercial television broadcasting licensees in regional and rural Australia to provide local news and information programs; and
v. Legislative requirements affecting commercial television broadcasting licensees in regional and rural Australia, including licensing, ownership and control, and conversion to digital transmission.
In the performance of the Investigation, the ABA will consider such matters as are necessary to address the issues identified in this Terms of Reference, including but not limited to:
1. How local news and information services promote a diverse range of radio and television services offering entertainment, education and information in regional and rural Australia;
2. How local news and information programs are responsive to audience needs in regional and rural Australia;
3. The extent to which commercial television services broadcast in regional and rural Australia are responsive to the need for an appropriate coverage of matters of local significance;
4. Reasons for changes to the nature and extent of local news and information programs in regional and rural Australia provided by commercial television services; and
5. Whether any regulatory intervention is necessary or appropriate to ensure the provision by commercial television broadcasting licensees of adequate and sufficient local news and information programs in regional and rural Australia and, if so, options for such intervention.
List of questions for consideration by members of the public in preparing their comments
This list of questions is to assist members of the public in preparing their comments. If you are preparing a submission, please refer to the terms of reference.
1. What constitutes ‘appropriate coverage of matters of local significance’? What would you consider to be ‘local’ (eg your town, region, State/Territory)?
2. What should commercial television services in regional and rural Australia do to demonstrate that they are responsive to your needs?
3. What local news and information programs should be made available by commercial television services where you live?
4. Should commercial television services be required to have particular regard to audience needs for local news and information programs in regional and rural Australia? If so, please explain.
5. What local news and information programs are provided by free-to-air television services where you live? Please give some examples. Have they increased or decreased in the last 15 years?
6. Are the local news and information programs provided where you live adequate for your purposes and meet your needs? If no, why? What is the post code of the area where you live?
7. In your view, what can the ABA do, and how, to ensure that free-to-air television services continue to provide local news and information programs where you live?
