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Appendix 2 Parliamentary Committees
The Department’s involvement in the following Parliamentary Committees ranged from preparing or providing input to Australian Government responses, to appearing before and making written submissions to committees.
Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts
Inquiry into the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2008
On 25 September 2008, the Senate referred the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2008 to the Committee for inquiry and report. On 8 October 2008, the Department provided a confidential submission to the inquiry, following a request from the Committee to respond to issues raised by Commercial Radio Australia. The Committee’s report was tabled on 13 October 2008. The Committee recommended that the Bill be passed.
The Bill was passed on 23 October 2008 and received Royal Assent on 31 October 2008.
Inquiry into the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television Switch-over) Bill 2008
On 25 September 2008, the Senate referred the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television Switch-over) Bill 2008 to the Committee for inquiry and report by 25 November 2008. On 24 October 2008, the Department provided the Committee with a submission on the Bill. The Committee held public hearings on 12 November 2008 at which the Department appeared, upon invitation from the Committee. The Committee’s report was tabled on 25 November 2008. The Committee recommended that the Bill be passed.
The Bill was passed on 4 December 2008, with an amendment by the Senate, agreed to by the Government, that requires the Minister to report quarterly on digital transmission blackspots. The Bill received Royal Assent on 18 December 2008.
The reporting of sports news and the emergence of digital media
The Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee published its report on its inquiry into the reporting of sports news and the emergence of digital media on 14 May 2009. The report included five recommendations.
As at 30 June 2009, the Department was coordinating the development of a Government response to the report in consultation with relevant agencies.
Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances
Australian Postal Corporation Amendment Regulations 2008 (No.1)
The Committee wrote to the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on 19 June 2008 to advise him of its view that it sees value in the amendment either specifying a retention period or identifying practices which would govern record retention in relation to the records required to be kept by state and territory government agencies engaged in the inspection of interstate mail for quarantine purposes.
The Minister wrote to the Committee on 18 August 2008 to assure it that adequate arrangements are in place for the proposed retention of records. On 28 August 2008, the Committee advised that the Minister’s advice had answered its concerns.
Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network
On 25 June 2008, the Senate established the Committee to ‘inquire into and report on the Government’s proposal to partner with the private sector to upgrade parts of the existing network to fibre to provide minimum broadband speeds of 12 megabits per second to 98 per cent of Australian homes and businesses on an open access basis’. The Department appeared before the Senate Select Committee on 8 October 2008 and 4 March 2009. The Committee provided two interim reports, which were tabled on 2 December 2008 and 12 May 2009.
On 7 April 2009, the Government announced that it had terminated the previous Request for Proposals process, replacing it with an initiative that would connect 90 per cent of Australian homes, workplaces and schools with fibre-to-the-premise, and would connect all other premises in Australia with next generation wireless and satellite technologies, ensuring every Australian house, school and workplace can access fast affordable broadband.
Consequently, on 14 May 2009, the Senate revised the terms of appointment of the Committee, reflecting the change in the Government’s policy direction and allowing the Committee to effectively continue and complete its inquiry into the National Broadband Network. The revised Terms of Reference can be found at www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/broadband_ctte/tor.htm. On 14 May 2009, the Senate revised the terms of appointment of this Committee and called for new submissions that directly related to these changes by 3 July 2009. Following consideration of submissions the Committee will hold public hearings.
The Committee’s final report is expected to be tabled on 23 November 2009.
Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances
Telecommunications (National Broadband Network) Determination under subsection 531H(4) 2008 (No. 1) and the Telecommunications (National Broadband Network—Restricted Recipients and Storage, Handling and Destruction of Protected Carrier Information) Rules 2008 (No. 1)
On 4 September 2008, the Committee Chair wrote to the Minister seeking advice as to the intended meaning and operation of the phrase ‘duly and punctually’ in Schedule 1 to the Telecommunications (National Broadband Network) Determination under subsection 531H(4) 2008 (No. 1) and the Telecommunications (National Broadband Network—Restricted Recipients and Storage, Handling and Destruction of Protected Carrier Information) Rules 2008 (No. 1). The Committee was concerned that the meaning of the words could give rise to dispute in particular situations.
The Department prepared a response from the Minister to the Committee.
The Committee advised the Minister on 13 November 2008 that the advice provided had answered its concerns.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications
Inquiry into cyber crime
On 18 May 2009, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications to inquire into and report on the nature and incidence of cyber crime in Australia. Submissions to the inquiry were due on 26 June 2009.
The Department provided a written submission to the Committee on 8 July 2009. The Committee will table its report in 2009–10.
Phoning Home—Inquiry into International Mobile Roaming
On 29 May 2008, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications to inquire into and report on international mobile roaming.
The Department provided a submission to the Committee on 15 August 2008. The Department appeared before the Committee on 24 September 2008 and gave evidence to assist in the inquiry.
The Committee tabled its report on 19 March 2009. The Committee made five recommendations aimed at improving prices and competition in the international mobile roaming market and to encourage increased consumer information and awareness.
The final report was tabled in Parliament on 9 September 2009.
Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Inquiry into Australia’s Relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
On 25 June 2008, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith, asked the Committee to inquire into and report on Australia’s relationship with ASEAN.
The Department provided a written submission to the Committee on 22 August 2008. The Department appeared before the Committee to give evidence to assist the inquiry on 2 October 2008. As at 30 June 2009, the Committee had not tabled its report.
Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Inquiry into the Major Economic and Security Challenges Facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific
On 24 June 2008, the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade announced that it would inquire into the major economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the island states of the southwest Pacific.
The Department provided a written submission to the Committee on 26 August 2008. Two departmental officers appeared before the Committee on 20 November 2008 to give evidence to assist in the inquiry. As at 30 June 2009, the Committee had not tabled its report.
House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions
Telstra services on the NSW Central Coast
On 19 March 2008, the Federal Member for Robertson, Ms Belinda Neal MP, tabled a petition in Parliament concerning Telstra mobile phone coverage on the NSW Central Coast. The Department gave evidence at the Committee’s public hearings on 24 September 2008. The Department provided a submission on 19 November 2008 that addressed questions on notice from the Committee.
ABC radio service in Nannup, WA
On 2 September 2008, Ms Nola Marino MP, Member for Forrest (WA) tabled a petition in the House of Representatives regarding the program content of the ABC Local Radio service broadcast in Nannup, Western Australia. On 4 September 2008, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Petitions, Mrs Julia Irwin MP, wrote to the Minister seeking a written response to the issues raised in the petition. The Minister provided a response on 24 September 2008. On 24 September 2008, the Department appeared at a public hearing convened by the Standing Committee on Petitions which considered this matter.
Community radio broadcasting in central Victoria and Goldfields Community Radio in Bendigo
On 22 September and 20 October 2008, Mrs Julia Irwin MP, Member for Fowler (NSW) tabled petitions in the House of Representatives regarding the ongoing availability of spectrum (channels) for community radio broadcasting in central Victoria. In October 2008, Mrs Irwin, in her capacity as Chair of the Standing Committee on Petitions, wrote to the Minister seeking a written response to the issues raised in the petitions. The Minister provided a response on 22 November 2008.
Information about these petitions can be viewed on the webpages of the Standing Committee on Petitions at www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/petitions.