Minister for communications Mitch Fifield is today meeting with the Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) board as the industry aims to cut back red tape.
CRA confirmed the minister would be attending its board meeting for a general discussion on the issues facing the industry.
The radio sector is looking to cut bureaucratic processes particularly where there is duplication in governance. Previously, CRA has pointed to licence fees for broadcasters, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) review, and media reform as on the agenda.
Speaking to AdNews, CRA CEO Joan Warner said: “The industry is seeking to work with government to reduce regulation, particularly where duplication exists.”
The CRA board comprises a number of commercial radio bosses including Nova Entertainment CEO Cathy O'Connor and COO Louise Higgins, Southern Cross Austereo's chief content officer Guy Dobson and Australian Radio Network COO Geraint Davies, among others.
In the past, Fifield has made strong indications that the 'reach' rule and 'two-out-of-three' rule will be on his agenda for the media landscape.
He told Sky News in October he would “like there to be significant reform”, with his comments following news that he planned to canvass media operators on the reach rule specifically.
"There is a lot of support for change, there is growing momentum, and I'm not someone who wants to let the grass grow on this issue," Fifield said at the time.
The reach rule prohibits a commercial broadcaster from making its content available to more than 75% of the population. The two-out-of-three rule" prevents any one company from gaining ownership of more than two of the traditional media platforms of print, radio and TV.
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