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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
2013-2014-2015
The Parliament of the
Commonwealth of Australia
THE SENATE
Presented and read a first time
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
No. , 2015
(Senator McKenzie)
A Bill for an Act to amend the Charter and board
composition in the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation Act 1983, and for related purposes
No. , 2015
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
i
Contents
1
Short title ........................................................................................... 1
2
Commencement ................................................................................. 1
3
Schedules ........................................................................................... 2
Schedule 1--Amendments
3
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983
3
No. , 2015
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
1
A Bill for an Act to amend the Charter and board
1
composition in the Australian Broadcasting
2
Corporation Act 1983, and for related purposes
3
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
4
1 Short title
5
This Act may be cited as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
6
Amendment (Rural and Regional Advocacy) Act 2015.
7
2 Commencement
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(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table
9
commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with
10
column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect
11
according to its terms.
12
2
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
No. , 2015
1
Commencement information
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Provisions
Commencement
Date/Details
1. The whole of
the Act
The day after this Act receives the Royal
Assent.
Note:
This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally
2
enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of
3
this Act.
4
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act.
5
Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it
6
may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
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3 Schedules
8
Legislation that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or
9
repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule
10
concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect
11
according to its terms.
12
Amendments Schedule 1
No. , 2015
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
3
Schedule 1--Amendments
1
2
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983
3
1 Subsection 3(1) (paragraph (a) of the definition of Advisory
4
Council)
5
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
6
(a) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Advisory Council
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established under paragraph 11(1)(a); or
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(aa) the Rural and Regional Advisory Council established under
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paragraph 11(1)(b); or
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2 Subsection 3(1)
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Insert:
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Rural and Regional Advisory Council means the Rural and
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Regional Advisory Council established under paragraph 11(1)(b).
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3 Subparagraph 6(1)(a)(i)
15
Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:
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(i) broadcasting programs that contribute to a sense of
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regional and national identity and inform and entertain,
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and reflect the geographic and cultural diversity of, the
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Australian community; and
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4 At the end of subsection 6(1)
21
Add:
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; and (d) to encourage and promote journalistic excellence in
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Australia, foster an environment conducive to the promotion
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of regional journalism and allocate the resources necessary to
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carry out the Corporation's functions and duties in rural and
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regional Australia.
27
5 After subparagraph 6(2)(a)(iii)
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Insert:
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(iiia) the responsibility of the Corporation to maintain an
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effective presence across Australia, including
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Schedule 1 Amendments
4
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
No. , 2015
throughout rural and regional Australia, consistent with
1
its status as an independent national broadcasting
2
service; and
3
(iiib) the responsibility of the Corporation to maintain regular
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transmissions of local content across a variety of
5
platforms;
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6 At the end of paragraph 6(2)(a)
7
Add:
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(vi) the responsibility of the Corporation as the provider of
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quality regional services to provide services that
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transcend commercial objectives so that the Corporation
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can meets its obligations to regional Australian areas
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with small populations; and
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(vii) the expectations of communities in regional areas as to
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the frequency and content of broadcasts; and
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7 After subsection 8(2)
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Insert:
17
(2A) Before implementing any policy affecting regional areas the Board
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must consult:
19
(a) regional employee stakeholders; and
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(b) the Rural and Regional Advisory Council.
21
Note:
Details of the consultations undertaken under this subsection are to be
22
included in the Corporation's annual report (see paragraph 80(ea)).
23
8 Subsection 8(3)
24
Omit "subsection (1) or (2)", substitute "subsection (1), (2) or (2A)".
25
9 Subsection 11(1)
26
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
27
(1) The Board must establish:
28
(a) an Advisory Council under the name Australian Broadcasting
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Corporation Advisory Council; and
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(b) an Advisory Council under the name Rural and Regional
31
Advisory Council.
32
Amendments Schedule 1
No. , 2015
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
5
10 After subsection 11(3)
1
Insert:
2
(3A) The functions of the Rural and Regional Advisory Council are:
3
(a) either on its own initiative or at the request of the Board, to
4
advise the Board on matters relating to:
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(i) the Corporation's broadcasting programs in rural and
6
regional Australia; and
7
(ii) other matters relating to rural and regional Australia;
8
and
9
(b) to conduct a biennial survey of rural and regional audiences
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relating to community satisfaction with the Corporation's
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broadcasting in rural and regional areas.
12
Note:
The results of the survey are to be included in the Corporation's
13
annual report (see paragraph 80(i)).
14
11 After subsection 11(6)
15
Insert:
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(6A) In making appointments to the Rural and Regional Advisory
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Council, the Board must have regard to the desirability of
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including in the membership of that Advisory Council
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representation of individuals who reside in rural or regional
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Australia.
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12 Subsection 11(10)
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After "Advisory Council", insert ", or the Rural and Regional Advisory
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Council,".
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13 Subsection 11(12)
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After "Advisory Council", insert ", the Rural and Regional Advisory
26
Council".
27
14 After subsection 12(5AB)
28
Insert:
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(5AC) When appointing Directors referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (c),
30
the Governor-General must ensure that at least 2 of the Directors
31
reside in regional areas.
32
Schedule 1 Amendments
6
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
No. , 2015
15 Subsection 27(2)
1
Repeal the subsection, substitute:
2
(2) Subject to subsection (5), the Corporation must:
3
(a) broadcast daily from each broadcasting service regular
4
sessions of news and information relating to current events
5
within and outside Australia; and
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(b) broadcast daily from each radio broadcasting service, at
7
regular intervals, at least 5 radio bulletins that consist solely
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or primarily of regional or local news between the period:
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(i) beginning at 5 am each day; and
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(ii) ending at 8 pm each day.
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16 After section 33
12
Insert:
13
34 The Corporation as an employer in regional areas
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The Corporation must:
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(a) ensure that there are procedures in place to ensure that
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emergency regional broadcasting events are staffed in
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accordance with occupational health and industrial safety
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standards; and
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(b) employ a proportion of its employees in regional areas in
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support of greater per capita investment in rural and regional
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areas of Australia than population density and commercial
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aims would otherwise dictate.
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17 After paragraph 80(e)
24
Insert:
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(ea) particulars of any consultation undertaken by the Board
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during the period under subsection 8(2A); and
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18 After paragraph 80(g)
28
Insert:
29
(h) particulars of any advice received by the Board during the
30
period from the Rural and Regional Advisory Council; and
31
Amendments Schedule 1
No. , 2015
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Amendment (Rural and Regional
Advocacy) Bill 2015
7
(i) if a biennial survey is carried out during the period by the
1
Rural and Regional Advisory Council--the results of the
2
survey; and
3
19 Paragraph 80(l)
4
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
5
(l) particulars of any significant changes during the period in
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transmission coverage, or transmission quality, of national
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broadcasting services provided by the Corporation:
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(i) in Australia generally; and
9
(ii) in rural and regional areas; and
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(m) particulars of the total number of employees at the end of the
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period aggregated by:
12
(i) location of employment; and
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(ii) type of employment; and
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(n) the percentage at the end of the period of the total number of
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employees that are employed in:
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(i) regional areas; and
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(ii) metropolitan areas;
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(o) particulars of the average ratio of individuals employed by
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the Corporation as journalists to support staff in:
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(i) regional areas; and
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(ii) metropolitan areas; and
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(p) particulars of the hours of local, rural and regional news
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broadcast, aggregated by broadcast area.
24