Michelle Rowland charged with communications portfolio in new Labor ministry
Yesterday evening, the leader of the Labor party and newly minted Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese unveiled his new ministry, assigning former shadow communications minister Michelle Rowland to the communications portfolio.
Rowland replaces Liberal party frontbencher Paul Fletcher, who served as minister for communications, urban infrastructure, cities and the arts between 2019 and 2022. His appointment in 2019 was welcomed by much of the industry, with Fletcher boasting some notable communications experience, having served as the director of corporate and regulatory affairs at Optus between 2000 and 2007, after four years as a staffer with Howard-era minister of communications, Richard Alston.

Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications
So good to see. I am trusting that someone with experience in regulation of media industries will finally take the corruption in our media, marketing and advertising self-regulation system seriously. Dare I say that a woman in the role may also respect the proven link between domestic violence, bullying and mental health issues ignored by the last Minister who preferred to chase a few cents per consumer in the finance sector, by contrast. I don’t understand the focus on the fiscal when real people are being harmed.
https://mumbrella.com.au/unconscious-bias-is-more-than-hiring-and-casting-the-entire-marketing-process-needs-upheaval-738388
The fact that our self-regulation systems do not have any oversight from an ombudsman or government accountability seems a good place to start:
https://www.suitsandsneakers.global/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Media-Regulatory-Landscape-Australiav1.3.pdf
The UK has harmful stereotypes against the law and we have no regulation and no disciplinary action which blocks the human rights laws being upheld is a crucial focus point too.
Let’s trust that this will move, finally.
Good luck to @Michelle Rowland in the role – a fantastic fit.
Mobile signal strengths are very poor in some suburbs like schofields and surroundings. Please prioritize this issue. Many professionals are working from homes because of change in work culture and having a good mobile reception has become a necessity.