The Department of Infrastructure,Transport,Regional Development,Communications and the Arts will conduct the review,with public consultation the first step.
Rowland said the review was part of the government’s election commitment to better fund national broadcasters. She added the federal government had restored $83.7 million in cuts made under the Morrison government,and moved to a five-year funding terms in place of three. The new funding term began on July 1.
The review will centre around funding and governance. The terms of reference state it will examine and make recommendations to support stable funding arrangements for the ABC and SBS “by identifying potential mechanisms to implement and maintain five-year funding terms at the amount announced by the government,while retaining the ability to provide additional funding during these terms”.
The government is also looking to create greater transparency over the selection process for appointees to the ABC and SBS boards.
Currently,an independent nomination panel presents a shortlist of candidates to the prime minister,in the case of a chair appointment,and to the minister of communications in the case of non-executive directors. However,the government is not ultimately required to select a candidate from the shortlist.
The public consultation is seeking views from individuals,businesses,peak bodies and other interested parties,and will run until the end of August. The department will then consider submissions before delivering its policy advice to the government at the end of the year.