The only role less meaningful than being Australia’s media minister is Veep
When it comes to media policy, Australia’s major parties are too scared of the big players to break the status quo – and that’s unlikely to change after the election
One of the most entertaining themes in HBO’s brilliant corridors-of-power comedy Veep is that being Vice President of the United States is the most unsatisfying job in the world.
Each time that the president of the day tells a new would-be Veep about how they’re going to be a big part of the team, be consulted and make a real difference, both parties know it’s a lie. As Selina Meyer puts it, “I’d rather be shot in the fucking face.”
At least you got an answer from Fifield’s people.
The NBN is a classic example of incredible vision with questionable costs that was then completely bastardised for political reasons.
If the Liberal party were responsible for building the Sydney Harbour Bridge today it would be single lanes each way.
This article is rubbish.
First it’s the communication minister, not the media minister.
Second, governments aren’t afraid of media players, they can do what ever they want to legislation provided they find the right support and any proposed reforms find their way through parliament and achieve royal ascent. They need approval from parliament not media owners. Any failings of previous media reform has been to due the lack of bipartisan support in parliament, albeit with pressure from the press.
Finally, this article suggests that the current Bill put forth to parliament by Mitch Fifield is unlikely to pass. Not true. The current has been referred to a Senate Committee that has had submissions from all key societal stakeholders and overall the findings revealed a strong level of bipartisan support, community support, academic supports, ACCC support and support from media owners. Small concerns do exist and most media owner feel they don’t go far enough by not tackling anti-siphoning laws. Many welcome the laws as it will help them achieve scale and combat offshore threats who face no regulation. It is very likely this bill will pass, therefore your article is moot.
Hi Jack,
The role of what I’ve generically called media minister (lower case), has had a number of different titles in the time period I’m talking about. Mitch Fifield is the Minister for Communications and Minister for the Arts, Stephen Conroy was Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.
And as to whether the bill passes, you may be missing my main point which is that it’s once again been pushed back until after an election, where it once again becomes at the mercy of (potentially) yet another media minster…
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella