This bill is currently before Parliament.
Transport & communications
News audiences could check a public online list of interests that may influence media reporting.
Senator Antic said large media organisations shape public opinion, so Australians should be able to see interests that might influence their reporting. He argued that a public list, similar to the interests disclosed by parliamentarians, would help people judge their news sources. The proposal covers financial interests worth more than $300 and gives people 30 days to report them.
Australia’s mainstream media already played a central role in informing public debate, while the pandemic period and rise of social media changed how many people consumed and judged information. As uncertainty grew about whether news could be influenced by undisclosed financial interests, Senator Alex Antic introduced a private member’s bill on 18 August 2026 to create an ACMAThe communications regulator that would maintain the public list. register publishing relevant interests and help Australians assess the sources of news they rely on.
The evidence pack contains no speech criticising the bill. It records only Senator Antic's supporting speech before the debate was adjourned.
Senator Alex Antic introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Liberal.
Did it become law?
Not yet
Final passage
No final vote yet
The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.
Days since introduction
49 days
Updated 06 Oct 2026.
Meaning
News audiences could check a public online list of interests that may influence media reporting.
Broadcast licence holders, larger print publishers, the ABC and SBS would have to report interests that may create conflicts or bias.
Directors, senior staff, journalists, editors, presenters and announcers would have to tell their organisation about relevant interests.
Media organisations and covered staff would have 30 days to report an interest after becoming aware of it.
People with financial interests worth more than $300 would report them if they could affect the organisation's reporting.
People or organisations that miss the reporting deadline could face a civil fine of 250 penalty units.
Broadcast licence holders could have their licence suspended or cancelled if they fail to report an interest as required.
3 Register of Media Interests (1) The ACMA must establish and maintain a Register of Media Interests (the Register). (2) The Register is to be maintained by electronic means. (3) The Register is to be made available for inspection on ACMA’s website. (4) The Register is not a legislative instrument. 4 Information contained in the Register (1) The ACMA must publish on the Register all information obtained by the ACMA under clause 5.Broadcasting Services Amendment (Register of Media Interests) introduced text
disclosure entity means any of the following: (a) the holder of a licence allocated by the ACMA under this Act; (b) regulated print media; (c) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; (d) the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. licence has the meaning given by subsection 6(1) of this Act. media interest of a disclosure entity means an interest, whether pecuniary or otherwise, of the entity, or of a relevant member of the entity, in relation to which the following paragraphs apply: (a) the interest either: (i) conflicts or could conflict with the integrity or independence of the dBroadcasting Services Amendment (Register of Media Interests) introduced text
relevant member of a disclosure entity means any of the following: (a) a director of the entity; (b) a member of a board of the entity; (c) a person who is a part of the executive, management or leadership (however described) of the entity; (d) a journalist, editor, presenter or announcer for the entity; (e) for a disclosure entity that is a corporation—a person who holds more than 50% of the issued share capital of the entity.Broadcasting Services Amendment (Register of Media Interests) introduced text
5 Disclosure obligations in relation to media interests Disclosures by disclosure entities (1) If a disclosure entity has or acquires a media interest, the entity must give written notice of the interest to the ACMA. (2) The notice must: (a) set out the nature of the interest; and (b) be given to the ACMA before the end of 30 days after the entity first becomes aware of the interest. Disclosures by relevant members (3) If a relevant member of a disclosure entity has or acquires an interest that is a media interest of the entity, the member must, before the end of 30 days after the membeBroadcasting Services Amendment (Register of Media Interests) introduced text
media interest of a disclosure entity means an interest, whether pecuniary or otherwise, of the entity, or of a relevant member of the entity, in relation to which the following paragraphs apply: (a) the interest either: (i) conflicts or could conflict with the integrity or independence of the dissemination of information (including news reporting) by the entity; or (ii) results or could result in bias in the dissemination of information (including news reporting) by the entity; (b) for a pecuniary interest—the interest’s value exceeds $300. Note 1: Pecuniary interests may include, for exBroadcasting Services Amendment (Register of Media Interests) introduced text
6 Civil penalty for failing to comply with disclosure obligations (1) A person contravenes this subclause if: (a) the person is required by subclauses 5(1) and (2) to give notice to the ACMA before a particular time; and (b) the person fails to comply with that requirement. Civil penalty: 250 penalty units. (2) A person contravenes this subclause if: (a) the person is required by subclause 5(3) to disclose an interest before a particular time; and (b) the person fails to comply with that requirement. Civil penalty: 250 penalty units.Broadcasting Services Amendment (Register of Media Interests) introduced text
7 Licence condition If the holder of a licence allocated by the ACMA under this Act is required by subclauses 5(1) and (2) to give notice to the ACMA before a particular time, it is a condition of the licence that the holder comply with that requirement. Note: Failure to comply may result in suspension or cancellation of the licence (see, for example, section 143 of this Act).Broadcasting Services Amendment (Register of Media Interests) introduced text
Context
Australia’s mainstream media already played a central role in informing public debate, while the pandemic period and rise of social media changed how many people consumed and judged information. As uncertainty grew about whether news could be influenced by undisclosed financial interests, Senator Alex Antic introduced a private member’s bill on 18 August 2026 to create an ACMAThe communications regulator that would maintain the public list. register publishing relevant interests and help Australians assess the sources of news they rely on.
News consumption changed and trust weakened
The sponsor said the pandemic period and social media significantly altered how Australians consumed and interpreted information, leaving many uncertain about which sources to trust and whether undisclosed interests influenced reporting.
Second reading speech ↗Mainstream media remained central to public debate
The second reading speech said many Australians still relied on major media outlets to understand political, social and cultural issues and to scrutinise people in power.
Second reading speech ↗Senator Alex Antic introduced the bill
The private member’s bill was presented in the Senate and proposed an ACMAThe communications regulator that would maintain the public list.-published register so Australians could see media interests that might influence or bias news.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Key criticism
The evidence pack contains no speech criticising the bill. It records only Senator Antic's supporting speech before the debate was adjourned.
Senator Antic said the proposal was intended to improve transparency and public trust, not control media content or editorial views.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Alex Antic supports the bill because he says a public register of media interestsA proposed public list of interests that may influence media reporting. would expose potential financial conflicts, help Australians assess media reporting and restore trust without regulating editorial content.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“It therefore seems inconsistent to not apply the same degree of scrutiny to our larger media organisations, which clearly play a vital role in shaping public opinion through their reporting. If financial interests exist which might give rise to bias, Australians should have the opportunity to understand this and make their own determinations. What this Bill seeks to do is ensure that the relevant information is available to Australians in a clear and easily accessible manner so that people can make their own decisions as to the information presented to them in the media. Hence this Bill proposes that a basic framework, similar to that which is applied to politicians, be created for these larger media entities.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
