New legislation to support access to broadcast television in regional Australia

The Albanese Government will enable continued access to television broadcasting services in remote and regional Australia through new legislation introduced to the Parliament today.
 
The Communications Legislation Amendment (Regional Broadcasting Continuity) Bill 2024 addresses outdated provisions and anomalies in the current regulatory framework that would otherwise prevent access to television services and more efficient broadcasting transmission.
 
The Bill expands access to the Government-funded Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) safety-net service in communities where there has been a material reduction to the number of terrestrial commercial television broadcasting services.
 
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will be empowered to declare an area to be ‘service-deficient’, that will allow audiences in the area to access services via satellite, should they wish to do so.
 
The Bill also adjusts the broadcasting regulatory framework to allow television broadcasters to save costs by managing their transmission network more efficiently while continuing to deliver high quality services to their audiences.
 
The Bill comprises amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA) and Radiocommunications Act 1992 (RCA) to:

• permit viewers to access the VAST safety net service when a commercial television broadcaster ceases to provide services terrestrially in a given area;
• remove impediments to commercial television broadcasters consolidating their terrestrial transmission arrangements; and
• enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to amend Television Licence Area Plans (TLAPs) to accommodate consolidated transmission arrangements.

This is in addition to the Government’s decision to extend the Commercial Broadcasting Tax (CBT) rebate by four years, to support eligible regional television and radio broadcasters. An additional one-off 12.5 per cent increase to the CBT rebate has also been applied.
 
The extended and increased CBT rebate will now provide $5.4 million in annual support, up from $4.8 million in 2023-24. This investment provides greater certainty for regional broadcasters that continue to face challenging operating environments and rising costs.
 
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
 
“The taxpayer-funded Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service plays an important role as a broadcasting safety net providing access to broadcasting services for audiences in regional and remote areas.

“This Bill will expand eligibility for regional and remote Australians to continue to access the broadcasting services in circumstances where there is a material reduction in the number of commercial television broadcasting services provided terrestrially in a given area.
 
“Expanding the eligibility of the VAST service complements the Federal Government’s commitment to extend this important safety net through to 2031. I look forward to seeing this Bill debated in the Parliament."