A new inquiry into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) is to be conducted with the support of a taskforce within the Department of Communications and the Arts.
Minister for Communications, Senator Mitch Fifield announced the inquiry, saying it would examine the operations of the broadcasters to ensure they were consistent with the “principles of competitive neutrality”.
“Competitive neutrality principles provide that Government business activities should not enjoy net competitive advantages simply by virtue of their public sector ownership,” Senator Fifield said.
“It is timely to consider how the national broadcasters operate in the modern media context and whether the ways they compete with the private sector are appropriate.”
He said the policy issues had not been reviewed in depth since the 1997 Mansfield Report.
Senator Fifield said Robert Kerr, a former head of staff at the Commonwealth Productivity Commission and former Commissioner of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, would chair the inquiry panel.
He said other members would be Julie Flynn, a former Chief Executive of Free TV Australia, and Sandra Levy, a former Chief Executive of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School.
“The panel will consult relevant stakeholders during the inquiry and be supported by a taskforce in the Department of Communications and the Arts,” Senator Fifield said.
He said the inquiry would be completed by July and would include a public call for submissions.
