Publications

On 24 May 2012, the House of Representative Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications (the Committee) announced that it would conduct an Inquiry into differential pricing of IT hardware and software in Australia compared to other jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Asia-Pacific. 

The Bill was introduced by Senator Nick Xenophon on 13 February 2017. On 16 February 2017, the Senate referred the Bill to the committee for inquiry and report by 10 May 2017. This was later extended to 9 August2017. The Bill proposes to amend the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983 to require the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to restore its shortwave transmission services. The ABC ceased shortwave transmission services in the Northern Territory and to international audiences from 31 January2017.

On 21 March 2013, the Senate referred the following matters to the Committee for inquiry and report: The effectiveness of current regulatory arrangements in dealing (under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 and the Copyright Act 1968) with the simultaneous transmission of radio programs using the broadcasting services bands and the Internet (‘simulcast’), including: the impact of current regulation on stakeholders, including broadcasters, copyright holders, including both publishing and performance rights holders and the audience; and any related matter.

On 20 November 2012, the Managing Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Mr Mark Scott AO, announced his proposal to close the ABC’s Hobart television production unit. On 27 November 2012, following the ABC’s announcement, the Senate referred the matter of the ABC’s commitment to reflecting and representing regional diversity in Australia to the Committee.