Australian media regulatory framework not fit-for-purpose, finds senate inquiry

The senate committee charged with conducting this year’s media diversity in Australia inquiry has produced its report, with the recommendation that the current regulatory framework is “not fit-for-purpose”.

The report states that the committee heard “significant evidence that Australia’s system of media regulation is not effective, citing the weakness of its mechanisms, its inconsistent governance arrangements and standards across platforms, and the lack of oversight for digital media”.

The majority report also recommends that the proposed judicial inquiry with Royal Commission powers to determine whether the existing system of media regulation is fit-for-purpose, and to investigate the concentration of the country’s media ownership, be rejected.