On May 22, 2017, Australia’s communication minister announced its support for the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) reforms after being reviewed by the Department of Communications and the Arts (DCA). There are a total of 27 recommendations listed and the government has approved to “put forward” into action all 27 recommendations.
Purpose for the reforms:
In order to ‘redesign the governance arrangements for the regulator and provide greater transparency, accountability, and responsiveness of the regulator’s day-to-day and strategic activities.’
Key reforms mentioned in ACMA’s final report:
-Clarifying the remit of the regulator to set the boundaries of its regulatory responsibility and oversight
-A number of changes to the functions of the regulator
-Clearer formal advice from the Government of the ACMA on its expectations, within the boundaries of its statutory independence, and reporting by the ACMA on its delivery against these.
-New governance arrangements involving a “commission” model of full-time, specialist members supported by the associate members and sub-boards.
-Embedding in its establishing legislation a series of regulator principles to guide performance.
According to the government, implementation of these changes is already underway.