Review of options to support the national broadcasters' independence

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The department is reviewing options to support the independence of the national broadcasters. Public submissions to the review closed on the 31 August 2023 at 5:00pm AEST.

Why we want your input

The department is reviewing options to support the independence of the national broadcasters—the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)—to safeguard against funding cuts and political interference. Your input will ensure that we obtain a comprehensive understanding of the views on issues raised in the review’s terms of reference.

How you can voice your opinion

Submissions to the review closed on 31 August 2023 at 5:00pm AEST. Public submissions have been published below.

What will be the outcome of this consultation?

Your views will help inform recommendations to the government on options to support the national broadcasters' independence.

The Issue

The Australian Government has implemented 5-year funding terms for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), which commenced on 1 July 2023. As part of this decision, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the department) is undertaking a review of options to support the independence of the national broadcasters.

The review will consider how best to provide greater certainty for announced funding. Funding certainty supports the stability and independence of the national broadcasters and guards against political interference.

The review will also consider governance arrangements to protect against political interference, such as examining the appointment processes for the ABC and SBS Boards. Strong governance will support the national broadcasters to fulfil their obligations to provide independent national broadcasting services for the benefit of all Australians.

A consultation paper, including terms of reference developed in consultation with the ABC and SBS, has been published below. The terms of reference outline includes issues relating to the funding and governance of the national broadcasters, including an examination of potential mechanisms to support 5-year funding terms and processes for making board appointments. Issues which are out of scope have also been published.

Relevant documentation

Outcome

On 17 December 2024, the Government released the findings of the review, which summarises the key views and themes from submissions and the Government's response following the public consultation process.

Media release—Supporting the independence of our national broadcasters

The report identifies reform options to provide greater certainty for announced funding and governance arrangements to protect against political interference, including the appointment processes for the ABC and SBS Boards.

Review of options to support the independence of the national broadcasters—Australian Government response to key issues raised during consultation

The public consultation process for this review was open from 20 July 2023 to 31 August 2023.

Public submissions are available below. Confidential submissions and comments provided to the department during the consultation process helped inform the review in the same manner as submissions, but have not been published. Submissions which were outside the scope of the terms of reference for the review have not been published.

The submissions on the discussion paper published below have been created by third parties and may not meet accessibility requirements. For accessible copies, or if you experience accessibility issues with the findings report, please contact nationalbroadcasters@communications.gov.au.

For further information about funding and governance arrangements of the ABC and SBS see www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/national-broadcasters.