There is a clear need for reform of Australia's outdated media sector regulation. The question is whether 2017 will be the year in which a start is made in this area.
The Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Media Reform) Bill was first introduced in Federal Parliament in March 2016. That Bill proposed the abolition of the '75% reach rule', that is the rule which prohibits commercial television broadcasting licensees from controlling licences for licence areas covering more than 75% of the population, and the '2 out of 3 rule', prohibiting control of more than 2 out of 3 of radio, television and newspaper platforms in any commercial radio licence area. The Bill was promptly referred to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee. Although the Bill lapsed when the 2016 Federal election was called the Committee continued its inquiry and released its report in May 2016.
The Bill (with some minor amendments) was re-introduced in September 2016 and sent back to the Committee again. The report from that second Committee review was tabled in Parliament in November 2016 and the Bill was passed by the House of Representatives later that month. The Bill has been introduced in the Senate and will be debated and possibly passed by the Senate in the near future.
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