Government introduces laws to protect Australians from online misinformation

January 20, 2023roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Zoe Samios
The Age – Page: Online : 20-Jan-23

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland intends to give the Australian Communications & Media Authority the power to retract information from technology companies if they do not meet the standards of a voluntary misinformation and disinformation code of practice previously established by the tech sector. Rowland contends that misinformation and disinformation presents a threat to Australia’s democracy, society and economy, as well as to the safety and wellbeing of its citizens.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

‘Stuck in a rut’: Diversity rules to be overhauled in major media reform

November 14, 2022roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Zoe Samios
The Age – Page: Online : 14-Nov-22

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland is to ask the Australian Communications and Media Authority to review current rules that measure and determine the diversity of Australia’s media, with a view to having them revamped. Rowland will tell the Communications and Media Law Association Seminar on 4 November that media policy had been "stuck in a rut" under the previous government, while any change to the way that media diversity is measured could have a big impact on the way that media companies approach further consolidation in the future.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA LAW ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

‘No need’: Minister dumps Senate call for ownership probe

June 27, 2022roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Miranda Ward
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 27-Jun-22

A Senate committee in 2021 recommended holding a royal commission into media ownership. However, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says the new federal government does not believes that such an inquiry is necessary, although she has stressed the need to closely monitor media concentration to ensure that communities continue to have adequate access to local news content. Rowland adds that issues such as the anti-siphoning list for sports broadcasts and ensuring that free-to-air channels are prominently displayed on smart TVs are among the government’s priorities.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Swiss cheese shield laws set for review

May 30, 2022roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Lydia Lynch
The Australian – Page: 23 : 30-May-22

Queensland recently became the last Australian jurisdiction to pass legislation to protect journalists from naming their confidential sources in court. Adam Portelli of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance says the introduction of uniform ‘shield’ laws is urgently needed, and the MEAA will urge the new federal government to do so. Portelli argues that the "Swiss cheese" nature of Australia’s shield laws deter potential whistleblowers from coming forward. Human Rights Law Centre lawyer Kieran Pender has also called for consistent shield laws nationwide.

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MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRE LIMITED

New media reforms to hurt Australian TV production

February 9, 2022roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Rod Myer
The New Daily – Page: Online : 9-Feb-22

The federal government’s latest media reforms will require streaming providers to invest at least five per cent of their Australian revenue in local content. This is well below the 10 per cent local content quota that the government had flagged in September 2020, while streaming services will not be penalised for failing to meet the revised quota unless Communications Minister Paul Fletcher decides to intervene. Screen Producers Australia CEO Matt Deaner is concerned that streaming services will produce local content in name only, using all-American casts to make US-style programs in Australia.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS, SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA

‘Completely excluded’: budget delivers $58.6m to media but ABC misses out

May 13, 2021roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Amanda Meade
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 13-May-21

Former ABC bureaucrat Michael Ward has criticised the lack of funding for the public broadcaster in the federal government’s May 2021 Budget. He contends that the ABC is among the few media companies that are excluded from the $58.6m funding package. Amongst other things, SBS will receive a $30m funding boost, some $8m has been allocated to community broadcasting and the privately-owned AAP newswire service will receive $15m. The Australian Communications & Media Authority will receive an additional $4.2m to implement the news media bargaining code.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY

Foxtel can halve Australian drama production under new broadcasting bill

April 1, 2021roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Amanda Meade
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 1-Apr-21

Screen Producers Australia CEO Matthew Deaner has questioned the federal government’s decision to slash Foxtel’s local drama quota in its new broadcasting bill. Foxtel is currently required to allocate 10 per cent of its drama budget to producing Australian content, but the bill will reduce this to five per cent. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has accused the government of favouring its "Murdoch mates"; she has also criticised the bill for failing to impose local content quotas on streaming video providers such as Netflix.

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FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

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