Statements and submissions

The Australian Press Council makes statements and submissions on a range of public policy issues within its areas of interest. Selected statements and submissions are listed below.

Submission in response to the Convergence Review's Interim Report (13 February 2012)
Response to the recommendations in the Interim Report, principally those concerning Content Standards and the new regulator.
Submission on 'A Commonwealth Statutory Cause of Action for Serious Invasion of Privacy' (29 November 2011)
Response to the issues paper released by the Minister for Home Affairs on 23 September 2011)
Submission to the Convergence Review Discussion Papers (11 November)
Response to the detailed discussion papers issued in September 2011. The Council's submission principally relates to the issues raised in the Community Standards paper.
Letter to the Chair of the Independent Media Inquiry (27 October 2011)
Letter from the Press Council Chair, Professor Julian Disney, responding to questions from the Chair of the Independent Media Inquiry, Mr Ray Finkelstein QC.
Submission to the Independent Media Inquiry (27 October 2011)
The submission describes progress to date in each of a number of key areas that are part of a sustained program of reform by the Australian Press Council, commenced in early 2010. It also outlines decisions about future action and other measures which are under active consideration.
Response to the Framing Paper of the Convergence Review Committee (10 June 2011)
The Australian Press Council responded to the Framing Council's paper giving specific attention to the importance of providing Australians with ready access to sources of news and opinion which comply with adequate core standards of accuracy, fairness, balance, integrity, civility and responsibility.
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee - Inquiry into the Film and Literature Classification Scheme (18 March 2011)
The Council’s key concerns in this inquiry relate to the application of the National Classification Scheme (NCS) to the print media. It believes that laws, regulations and practices that restrict or inhibit the media from freely gathering and distributing news, views and information are unacceptable unless it can be shown that the public interest is better served by applying them despite the adverse impacts on the public interest in the people's right to know.
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee - Inquiry into the Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege) Bill 2010 (No. 1 and No.2) (17 Nov 2010)
The Council has, as one of its primary concerns, the protection and promotion of freedom of expression. Without access to information, freedom of the expression is generally compromised. Accordingly, the passage of effective legislation to protect communication with the media by whistleblowers is a high priority.

Other selected statements and submissions

For a full list, and for statements and submissions relating to particular issues, search here