PUBLIC and commercial broadcasters, peak industry bodies and arts groups will address the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts next week in Sydney for its inquiry into broadcasting, online content and live production to rural and regional Australia.

Committee Chairman the Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP said the Committee is keen to hear about the services currently being provided to rural and regional Australia by broadcasters, as well as the experiences of key arts groups in promoting and delivering the arts in non-metropolitan settings. 

Mrs Bishop said that the evidence received from a variety of groups and individuals emphasises that access to the arts, news and other services, and local content, contributes significantly to the vibrancy of Australia’s rural and regional communities. 

“The Committee is pleased with the response it has received to the inquiry, with many informative submissions from a variety of places throughout Australia and we look forward to hearing from as many stakeholders and interested parties as possible during the conduct of the inquiry,” she said.

Public hearing details

Date: Monday, 7 March 2016 
Time: 9.00am to 5.00pm 

Hearing program: 
9.00am     Australian Broadcasting Corporation
10.00am   Free TV Australia
10.30am   Commercial Radio Australia
11.15am     Special Broadcasting Service Corporation
12.15pm    Lunch break
1.15pm      Prime Media, WIN Network and Southern Cross Austereo
2.15pm      Seven West Media
3.10pm      APN News and Media
3.40pm     Community Broadcasting Association of Australia
4.10pm     Optus
4.40pm     Aurora Community Television
5.00pm     Finish

Date: Tuesday, 8 March 2016 
Time: 9.00am to 1.30pm 

Hearing program: 
9.00am    Opera Australia
9.45am     Australian Major Performing Arts Group
10.30am   Sydney Dance Company
11.00am    Break
11.15am     ABC Regional
11.45am    Australia Council for the Arts
12.30pm   The Australian Ballet
1.00pm     Screen Producers Australia
1.30pm      Finish

Location for both days: Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices, Level 21, Meeting Room 2, 1  Bligh Street, Sydney.  Live webcast (audio only) 

For further background information, including programs for the hearing and copies of submissions, visit the Committee website www.aph.gov.au/communications or contact the secretariat: (02) 6277 4386 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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ON MONDAY 7 March, the House Infrastructure, Transport and Cities Committee will be meeting with a range of witnesses at a public hearing for the inquiry into the role of transport connectivity on stimulating development and economic activity.

The hearing will be held at the Commonwealth Parliament Offices, Level 21, 1 Bligh St Sydney.

Due to the security arrangements in place at these offices, members of the media and public interested in attending this hearing should register their interest with the secretariat before midday on Friday 4 March on (02) 6277 2352 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Further details on the hearing will be made available closer to the date.

Hearing details
Date: Monday, 7 March 2016
Time: 8:30 am–4:00 pm
Venue: Meeting Room 1, Commonwealth Parliament Offices, Level 21, 1 Bligh St Sydney

The public hearing will be webcast live at http://www.aph.gov.au/live

Further background information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and how to prepare a submission, can be obtained from the Committee’s website at www.aph.gov.au/itc or from the Secretariat on (02) 6277 2352 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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THE PRIVACY of Australia’s 11 million employees is under threat following a decision of the national employment tribunal to allow a trade union to access personal information of non-union members.

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has allowed an organiser of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) to access employment records, which often contain names, addresses and other highly personal information, for non-union employees at a major Brisbane meat processor.
 
National resource industry peak employer group, AMMA, is calling for changes to Australia’s workplace laws to ensure such invasions of privacy do not become commonplace.
 
“There is no justification for our workplace laws to allow any union official to access the personal employment records of non-union members,” says AMMA executive director Scott Barklamb.
 
“No one outside of the employee, the employer or government inspectors has any business seeing employment records that may include sensitive health, performance and financial information.
 
“Working Australians are entitled to ask why any union official should be able to know their employment history, where they live, whether they’ve had time off on mental health grounds, or if they are paying child support.”
 
AMMA understands the application was made in a longstanding pay dispute between the union and meat giant Teys Australia. Mr Barklamb points out that the Australian Government has inspectors in each state and territory who are highly trained and subject to public sector standards in dealing with personal information.
 
“The Fair Work Ombudsman, which receives more than $120 million annually in taxpayer funds, is quite capable of dealing with such matters,” he says.
 
“Any notion of granting unaccountable union officials access to employees’ private information without their permission is absurd, unsafe and a breach of freedom of association.
 
“There are no guarantees that union officials will protect personal information. This is a serious concern following evidence of union links to criminality and improper access to personal files uncovered by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.
 
“AMMA calls for changes to our workplace laws to specifically prohibit union officials from ever having access to the personal and employment information of non-union members. To protect employees, it should also be an offence for any union official to seek access to such information.”

AMMA (Australian Mines and Metals Association) is Australia's national resource industry employer group.

www.amma.org.au

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THE  Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) today commended the Victorian Government on key progress in its efforts to grow Victoria’s reputation as a leading destination for tourism and events.

“VTIC has been heartened by the commitment the government has shown towards the tourism industry through a range of announcements in recent weeks and we look forward to even more action in the near future,” said Acting VTIC Chief Executive Erin Joyce.

“Last week’s announcement of $3.6 million in funding for six key tourism infrastructure projects under the joint Commonwealth-State Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program is particularly welcome after a long wait.”

Ms Joyce said projects such as the new Melbourne Cricket Ground Roof Walk and Buzz Line Fly experiences will enhance Victoria’s visitor attractions and offerings.

“It is encouraging to see these projects as a start to the activation of a critical pipeline of tourism infrastructure projects for the state,” said Ms Joyce. 

Ms Joyce said the government had also positively responded to calls for support of the Great Ocean Road region following the Wye River bushfires.

“Businesses in the Great Ocean Road area rely on the influx of tourists to the region during the warmer months and again in the upcoming Easter period,” said Ms Joyce.

“That’s why we are encouraged by the government’s critical approval of more than $400,000 to help boost visitor numbers in the lead up to Easter through initiatives such as destination marketing and events support.”

VTIC also acknowledged the efforts the Victorian Government is making to listen to the views and concerns of tourism and event businesses in the state.

“The appointment of the Visitor Economy Ministerial Advisory Committee earlier this month is welcome, but there is still more to be done to keep Victoria’s tourism industry growing,” said Ms Joyce.

“VTIC looks forward to the imminent announcement of the new Visit Victoria Board and establishment of the entity as well as the development of an action oriented tourism and events plan.”

“These initiatives are vital steps to ensure government and industry can get on with the job of driving growth and sustainability of this important business sector and economic pillar.”

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice. Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute more than $20 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

vtic.com.au

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