BUDGET 2012: Little things tend to be disregarded when we have major projects announced. However, hidden in the budget is that the Bureau of Meteorology will soon have ads on its website for a one-year trial.
Topic: Australian Government
Budget: NBN cancellation would cost nearly $2 billion
Photo: Kainet/Flickr (Creative Commons)
BUDGET 2012: The budget has revealed the cost of cancelling the $36 billion National Broadband Network would see a $1.8 billion black hole - something that the Coalition needs to accommodate in its budgets if it does go through and scrap the entire project.
SBS gets Budget boost, set to launch new FTA channel for Indigenous Australians
BUDGET 2012: SBS is about to get $158.1 million over five years in funding – something long overdue after only getting a measly $20 million three years ago – which also includes plans to launch a brand new digital channel for Indigenous Australians,
Convergence Review: the call for regulation will be unpopular with established media
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I’m looking forward to the next few days.
The Convergence Review’s key recommendation to introduce a new body to “regulate” the activities of our major 15 media operators – including newspapers – is significant.
Convergence Review: ‘Sixth multiplex’ should be used to launch new FTA channels
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Buried in the Convergence Report is a plan that could enable Australian television to be more crowded than the 18 channels already available on digital. While ruling out the possibility of a fourth commercial network, the review wants to use the ‘sixth multiplex’ to be used to launch a number of new channels.
Small bloggers and publishers avoid ‘News Media Council’ body
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Small bloggers and publishers have avoided being regulated in the Convergence Review, despite another inquiry wanting those to be part of a ‘News Media Council’ body that would regulate news content’s accuracy.
FULL TEXT: Convergence Review Final Report
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The Australian Government has released the full report of its Convergence Review – and for those who did not know what that was, it was to evaluate the future of Australia’s media and communications laws. Some of the key findings include a new regulatory framework for spectrum, media ownership and – as noted by a leak by The Australian – news standards.
Microsoft, Apple to be asked by Parliament on why they charge so much in Australia
Image: Mark Pegrum/OzMark17 via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Apple and Microsoft, among other tech companies, have been called to Canberra to explain why Australians are being charged much more on software, music and games in comparison to other nations, according to a new report.
Gillard to replace Conroy with ‘someone more competent’
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EXCLUSIVE: Senator Stephen Conroy could be out of the cabinet with Prime Minister Julia Gillard already looking for someone to replace him as Communications Minister.
Huawei banned in NBN supplier bid due to ASIO’s fears of army ties
Photo: Kainet/Flickr (Creative Commons)
The Australian Government reportedly stopped Chinese mobile equipment maker Huawei Technologies from bidding to become a major supplier to the National Broadband Network, over fears of cyber attacks from China and its CEO’s links to the army.
R18+ Classification passes House with bipartisan support, heads to Senate
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The House of Representatives have passed the R18+ classification amendment for video games, meaning that the law reaches its final hurdle – passing the Senate. However, as seen by the support in the House, then it will most likely pass without any hitches.
R18+ Classification Bill finally introduced to Parliament
Image: Shaun Greiner/Flickr (Creative Commons)
The bill that will see an R18+ classification for video games has now been finally introduced to Parliament. Introduced by Minister of Home Affairs Jason Clare, it has now been tabled and will be debated tomorrow.
2011 – A Year of Many Things: A recap of the big events of the year
The year 2011 was one year that we will all never forget. Even though they were all in the beginning of the year, the floods in Queensland and Brazil, the earthquakes in Christchurch and the tsunami in the north of Japan are still present in all of our minds. We also saw the death of a tech luminary, Steve Jobs; and the powerful News Corporation losing its influence over politicians in the UK after the phone hacking scandal took a drastic turn from celebrities to victims of crime.
Australia Network to remain with the ABC
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has announced the fate of Australia’s international broadcaster, Australia Network. The network will remain with the ABC, and it will stay with the national broadcaster permanently.
The move to keep the network with the ABC, who currently holds the contract to do so until 2012, comes after a failed tender process which had been compromised by leaks. The tender process was then scrapped in November, and the AFP called to find the source.
Attorney General: Assange won’t be prosecuted over new leaks
Julian Assange will not be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office despite breaching Australian law by identifying an ASIO officer in the recent unredacted cables that were recently published by Wikileaks, according to the Daily Telegraph.