Senator Mackay asked the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, upon notice, on 28 November 2003:

Has the review of the adequacy of local news and information programs in regional Australia been completed; if so: (a) has the board of the Australian Broadcasting Authority considered any report arising from the review; if so, what were the main findings of the review; and can details be provided of any recommendations and how these recommendations will be implemented; if not, when is this review expected to be completed; and can details of the review's findings and recommendations be provided.

Senator Kemp (Minister for the Arts and Sport) —The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The review has not yet been completed.

The inquiry into the adequacy of local content broadcast in regional areas covered all regional areas of Australia. After gathering information from these areas, the ABA focussed its initial investigation on the mainland aggregated markets. In March 2003, the ABA imposed an additional licence condition on commercial television licensees in the four mainland aggregated markets.

In addition, the ABA is undertaking investigations into the adequacy of local news and information broadcast in the remaining areas, which include remote and regional Western Australia, Darwin and remote central and eastern Australia (including Mt Isa), Tasmania, Mildura/Sunraysia, Griffith and the four solus markets of Renmark/Loxton, Mt Gambier, Broken Hill and Spencer Gulf.

(a) I am advised that the ABA Board has not considered any report arising from the review.

As the review has not yet been finalised, it is not possible to provide details of the main findings or recommendations of the review.

The timeframe for completing the review is uncertain, however, I am advised that ABA staff are currently preparing a paper for the ABA members on this matter.