Australian Media Authority announces appointment of new members

Neha Soni October 25, 2024

SiGMA news

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced the appointment of eight members to its Consumer Consultative Forum (CCF).

The members will be appointed for three-years to CCF, which is an advisory group focusing on consumer issues in the telco space. The three members include family violence services peak body Safe and Equal (VIC), Associate Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker, co-chair of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group, and the Country Women’s Association of NSW, representing the Regional, Rural and Remote Communications Coalition.

The existing Consumer Action Law Centre, the Consumer Policy Research Centre, Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, the NSW Business Chamber and the Western Community Legal Centre members have all been reappointed. The appointments were made after a call for expressions for interest in July 2024. The CCF advises the ACMA on a range of policy and regulatory issues, offering varying consumer perspectives on telco consumers’ problems.

Retirement of Chapman

In related news, the deputy chair of ACMA, Creina Chapman, has announced her retirement and said she will not be seeking reappointment at the completion of her term. Her term concludes on 10 December 2024. The Albanese Government will commence a selection process for the next deputy chair of ACMA in the coming weeks. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will be conducting the selection process for the next deputy chair, which is expected to start from next month. While the selection process is being finalised, an interim deputy chair will be appointment, which is to be announced in due course. Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland MP said, “On behalf of the Australian Government, I would like to thank Ms Chapman for her exemplary leadership as Deputy Chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority over the past 6 years. “She has navigated the Authority through a time of significant change for the communications and media industries and contributed to reforms that make a real difference for Australians when it comes to consumer safety and connectivity. “In this way, Ms Chapman has made a positive and enduring contribution to the Australian communications and media landscape. We wish her well for the remainder of her term and her future endeavours.”