Shadow communications minister has ‘serious questions about ACMA’s ability to do the job’
Melissa McIntosh: ACMA needs to win back her confidence
The shadow communications minister Melissa McIntosh has questioned whether Australia’s media regulator is fit for purpose.
At a press conference to address the Optus meltdown which saw at least four people die after being unable to contact the Triple Zero network, McIntosh suggested that the Australian Communications and Media Authority should be barred from running the investigation, given that it was involved in the disaster.
The Liberal politician went further, saying that ACMA does not currently have her confidence.
In response to a question from Mumbrella about whether ACMA retains her confidence, McIntosh said: “I question that ACMA should be responsible for the investigation in their part in the failed process, and whether it’s really going to be transparent.
“Do they have my confidence? They should prove that they deserve my confidence. Right now, they couldn’t be alerted to an email that came from Optus and I just don’t think they should be part of the investigation. They have questions to answer too.”
Asked by Mumbrella whether that incident affected McIntosh’s perception of the ACMA as a regulator of the wider industry, she replied: “Yeah – of course. ACMA has such a broad job to do across the media industry and when something as serious as Triple Zero fails, has their focus been enough on this particular industry, and ensuring the triple zero network is robust enough?
“I would like to have confidence back in ACMA, but right now I have serious questions around its involvement and its ability to do the job.”
The Liberals are not the only party to question ACMA processes. In November, Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young put ACMA chair Nerida O’Loughlin on the spot over obscene content on The Kyle & Jackie O Show. That content finally triggered an investigation from the regulator into Kiis FM’s broadcast content.
The ACMA did not respond to Mumbrella’s invitation to comment.
