https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33690 2026-06-04T18:13:18Z 2026-06-04T18:13:18Z Nicholls, Rob https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35330 2026-05-21T04:56:39Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Free Content, Local Choice: The PacificAus TV Approach to Pacific Broadcasting Nicholls, Rob Overview PacificAus TV represents Australia’s government-funded initiative providing commercial television programming free of charge to eighteen broadcasters across twelve Pacific nations. Launched in May 2020 with initial funding of $17.1 million, the program has expanded to nearly 3,000 hours of content annually by 2025, operating within the broader Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy ($68.8 million over five years). Free TV Australia, the commercial broadcasting industry’s peak body, manages the program through a grant arrangement with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), distributing content via satellite, internet streaming, and web portals. Policy Architecture: Channels versus Programming Australian broadcasting policy in the Pacific differentiates between two distinct models. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) operates dedicated broadcast channels, ABC Australia television and Radio Australia. These deliver curated schedules of news, current affairs, and cultural programming through direct transmission infrastructure. ABC maintains editorial control over content selection and scheduling, functioning as traditional international broadcasting funded through government appropriations ($40.5 million over five years). PacificAus TV operates fundamentally differently as programming provision rather than channel operation. The initiative supplies Australian commercial television content to existing Pacific broadcasters, who retain complete editorial independence in selecting which programs to air and when to schedule them. This model respects Pacific broadcaster autonomy, positioning partner organisations as active decision-makers rather than passive content recipients. The distinction reflects policy recognition that effective regional engagement requires multiple complementary mechanisms serving different strategic purposes. Operational Model and Rights Acquisition Free TV Australia operates PacificAus TV with a lean staff of fewer than two full-time equivalents, outsourcing technical distribution to MediaHub Australia. The operational model leverages existing commercial television industry relationships and expertise rather than creating separate government infrastructure. Content acquisition navigates complex intellectual property frameworks. Australian commercial networks Seven and Nine retain ownership rights to some of their produced content and can license directly to PacificAus TV. For content produced by independent companies or acquired from international distributors, Free TV negotiates through rights-holding intermediaries including major distribution companies like Banijay, ITV, and Fremantle. These intermediaries control significant content catalogues and license Pacific territorial rights separately from Australian domestic rights. Music rights present particular complexity, as television programs incorporate multiple musical elements each potentially controlled by different rights holders. Australian networks typically clear music rights only for Australian territories, requiring renegotiation to extend clearances to Pacific distribution. Free TV’s strategy favours programs where music rights are pre-cleared broadly, can be cleared cost-effectively, or where music content is minimal. Sports programming and Australian dramas often present fewer music clearance challenges than entertainment formats featuring prominent musical performances. The Australian Government funds all licensing costs, enabling Pacific broadcasters to receive content entirely free. This zero-cost model addresses a genuine market gap, as many Pacific broadcasters operate with limited content acquisition budgets and could not otherwise afford high-quality Australian programming. Broadcaster Engagement and Content Selection Free TV consults regularly with Pacific partner broadcasters through surveys, individual communications, and ongoing dialogue via digital platforms including WhatsApp. This consultation process identifies programming preferences, assesses audience reception, and responds to emerging broadcaster needs. Pacific broadcasters indicate which genres and specific programs generate strong viewer interest, informing Free TV’s content acquisition decisions. Sports programming dominates the content profile at over 50% of total hours, reflecting Pacific audience preferences. The sports category encompasses netball (including Super Netball and Pacific-focused series), Australian football codes (AFL, NRL including Pacific Championships), cricket, rugby, basketball, and football. Free TV consults with DFAT’s PacificAus Sports initiative and works closely with sporting codes and to secure rights to events of particular Pacific relevance. Non-sports content includes Australian drama series (Neighbours, Home & Away), reality television and lifestyle programming (MasterChef Australia, Better Homes & Gardens, The Voice), factual programs (60 Minutes, Paramedics), and children’s content. Programming selection balances broadcaster preferences, available content, rights clearance feasibility, and cultural appropriateness considerations. Critically, Pacific broadcasters maintain editorial independence in determining which available programs to schedule. Much PacificAus TV content appears in primetime slots across Pacific broadcasters, reflecting professional judgments that programming attracts audiences and performs competitively. Fourteen of eighteen partner broadcasters operate as advertiser-funded commercial entities requiring audience delivery to sustain revenue, making their primetime scheduling decisions meaningful evidence of content value. Distribution Technologies PacificAus TV employs three complementary distribution methods accommodating diverse Pacific infrastructure contexts: Satellite delivery via Intelsat-19 provides reliable content delivery regardless of internet connectivity, transmitting structured 16-hour content blocks daily in standard definition. Pacific broadcasters receive signals through integrated receiver decoder equipment provided by the program. Satellite distribution enables live sports delivery and “pass-through” broadcasting where broadcasters relay signal portions directly without requiring local storage infrastructure. Internet Protocol streaming using Secure Reliable Transport (SRT) technology delivers identical content blocks via internet connection at multiple quality levels (high definition, standard definition, low-bitrate monitoring). Free TV is trialling second simultaneous SRT stream capability to deliver two sporting events concurrently. Web portal downloads provide on-demand access to individual program files in MP4 format, downloadable at convenient times. This method offers maximum scheduling flexibility and functions as backup when real-time distribution encounters technical difficulties. The 2023 Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Review The November 2023 review, conducted jointly by DFAT and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, assessed Australian broadcasting investments across the region. The review concluded that PacificAus TV “has successfully delivered on its intended aims, as evidenced by audience research and through grant reporting and performance reports,” noting that “feedback from Pacific broadcasters is very positive, including on the potential for expansion”. The review’s key recommendations included: Recommendation 7: Renew investment in PacificAus TV, based on objective achievement and positive broadcaster feedback Recommendation 8: Further expand into more Pacific nations, noting successful additions of Tonga, Samoa, Niue, and Cook Islands Recommendation 9: Investigate content slate expansion through ABC and SBS/NITV programming, enabling Pacific broadcasters to access news, current affairs, documentaries, and First Nations content alongside commercial entertainment Recommendation 10: Review program delivery arrangements to determine if existing models remain fit for purpose The review validated Free TV’s management, noting the organisation had exceeded contracted content hours while maintaining professional delivery standards. The recommendation to integrate ABC and SBS content reflects the Australian viewer experience of complementary and competing broadcasting services delivered by commercial broadcasters and the national broadcasters. In particular the SBS public service content addressing cultural connections. Scalability and Geographic Expansion The program demonstrates strong scalability characteristics. Initial expansion to Tonga and Samoa (2021), followed by Niue and Cook Islands (2024), and Timor-Leste (2025) occurred with minimal incremental costs. Satellite footprint, internet streaming infrastructure, and web portal systems accommodate additional broadcasters without proportional investment increases. Content rights cleared for “Pacific” territories typically cover all regional nations without requiring territory-by-territory renegotiation. The 2023 review identified potential expansion to New Caledonia and French Polynesia, acknowledging that Francophone contexts might require content adaptation but suggesting the fundamental program model could accommodate diverse regional settings. Lessons for Similar Initiatives The PacificAus TV experience offers several insights applicable to organisations like NHK Foundation examining Pacific broadcasting engagement: Consultation mechanisms: Regular engagement with Pacific broadcasters to identify content preferences ensures programming selections align with local audience interests rather than external assumptions. Pacific broadcasters’ professional judgments regarding primetime scheduling provide stronger validation of content value than external critique. Technological flexibility: Multiple distribution pathways accommodate diverse infrastructure contexts. No single technology optimally serves all Pacific broadcasting environments, with capabilities varying substantially between urban centres and remote locations, larger and smaller nations. Rights clearance complexity: Securing content for Pacific distribution requires navigating territorial licensing arrangements, music rights, and program rights. Government funding of licensing costs enables zero-cost broadcaster access, addressing market gaps where many partners lack content acquisition budgets. Respect for broadcaster autonomy: Deferring content selection to Pacific broadcasters acknowledges that local organisations best understand audience preferences and cultural sensitivities. This approach builds trust and demonstrates genuine partnership rather than content imposition. Sustained commitment: Multi-year funding enables relationship building, operational capability development, and content catalogue expansion impossible under short-term project frameworks. Conclusion PacificAus TV demonstrates that programming provision models can effectively complement traditional international broadcasting whilst respecting Pacific broadcaster autonomy. The initiative’s expansion from 1,188 to 2,950 hours annually, geographic extension across twelve nations, and positive 2023 review assessment validate governmental investment in commercial content distribution. For organisations seeking Pacific broadcasting engagement, the program illustrates the importance of consultation, flexibility, respect for local agency, and sustained commitment. Success ultimately rests on alignment between policy objectives, broadcaster operational needs, and audience preferences. This is achieved through partnership approaches respecting Pacific priorities rather than imposing predetermined content or technologies.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Nicholls, Rob https://hdl.handle.net/2123/35284 2026-05-07T22:51:27Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Submission on the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 review Nicholls, Rob The SOCI Act has undergone substantial reform since its original enactment but contains significant blind spots that leave the nation exposed to emerging threats. In my view the critical gaps are that content delivery networks (CDN) and AI services fall outside the SOCI Act’s explicit coverage, while space technology remains listed as a sector yet has no defined critical infrastructure assets. These are all fundamental to modern Australian infrastructure but either fall outside the Act’s explicit coverage or remain entirely undefined despite their sector listing. The June 2021 Akamai CDN outage disabled three of Australia’s four major banks for four hours. Healthcare and financial decision-making have ongoing dependence on US-hosted AI services. These gaps are not theoretical concerns but operational vulnerabilities requiring immediate regulatory attention. The SOCI Act framework has evolved through four major amendments between 2021 and 2024, including addressing gaps exposed by the Optus and Medibank breaches. However, this reactive approach was an ex post response rather than threat anticipation. This leaves Australia perpetually one step behind adversaries who have demonstrated both capability and intent to disrupt critical infrastructure

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Argyrous, George https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34894 2026-02-26T23:01:22Z 2026-02-25T00:00:00Z

Creating Surveys to Measure Institutional Trust: A Best Practice Guide Argyrous, George This guide is written for practitioners, researchers, and policy teams who want to design a short survey module (or a full questionnaire) to measure trust in institutions such as government agencies, regulators, the media, banks, courts, health services, or science. It focuses on the practical decisions that most affect data quality: defining the trust object, writing unambiguous items, choosing response options, and testing questions before fielding. It draws on common issues identified in the trust-survey literature and on methodological evidence from survey design research, including experimental comparisons of alternative wordings and formats.

2026-02-25T00:00:00Z Nicholls, Rob https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34887 2026-02-24T00:21:05Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Commerce (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2025 Nicholls, Rob This report examines a single, specific proposal within the Bill: the repeal of section 46 of the Commerce Act 1986 as set out in clause 8. While the broader suite of reforms contained in the Bill is generally welcomed, this analysis highlights a technical concern arising from the proposed repeal. The issue is not rooted in resistance to stronger competition law enforcement but in the risk of an unintended legislative consequence. In particular, removing section 46 may inadvertently expose routine merger transactions to criminal liability - an outcome unlikely to align with the Bill’s policy intent. The report therefore sets out the basis for this concern and underscores the need for careful legislative design to avoid such effects.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Nicholls, Rob https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34886 2026-02-24T00:16:03Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Competition and Consumer Amendment (Unfair Trading Practices) Bill 2026 – Exposure Draft Nicholls, Rob This submission identifies four key concerns with the exposure draft Bill relating to unfair trading practices.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Zeng, Jacky Weatherall, Kimberlee Gulson, Kalervo https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34844 2026-02-13T00:54:33Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Smart Glasses: A study outlining implications for public sector organisations Zeng, Jacky; Weatherall, Kimberlee; Gulson, Kalervo Smart Glasses are a technology which has seen rapid development in recent years – evolving from niche gadgets to functional technology. Leading products today enable the user to capture – and subsequently distribute – audio, video, geolocation etc., in a hands-free and discreet manner. In the context of the University of Sydney (the University), the use of Smart Glasses by people on campus grounds (mostly, students and visitors) raises or exacerbates concerns related to safety, privacy, copyright and academic integrity. This can trigger legal issues. Recording may implicate privacy-related laws: surveillance devices and privacy legislation can require consent (from all parties) for recording. As a rule, however, consent is only required where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. The use of Smart Glasses in classrooms can trigger copyright regulations – which prohibit the use of lecture materials beyond personal use. Most obviously, use in examinations would contravene the University’s policy on academic integrity. Smart Glasses may also amplify downstream malicious activity such as stalking and doxxing, as well as cyberbullying and harassment, for which there are strict prohibitions in both the law and University policies. On the other hand, any responses need to take into account accessibility enhancements that Smart Glasses can offer for people with disabilities. There are some gaps and ambiguities between existing safeguards and potential harms. A combination of explicit policy and/or education may help promote safety and respect on University campuses.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Argyrous, George Flew, Terry Koskie, Timothy Nicholls, Rob Stepnik, Agata https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34650 2025-12-18T05:20:42Z 2025-12-18T00:00:00Z

Submission to the News Bargaining Incentive Argyrous, George; Flew, Terry; Koskie, Timothy; Nicholls, Rob; Stepnik, Agata In this submission, we have responded to a selected set of questions outlined in the Treasury Consultation Paper. Our main recommendations are: 1. Considerations should be given to extending the Incentive to apply to major generative AI platforms and not simply restricted to social media and search services. 2. Gross annual Australian revenue collected (including GST) should be the basis on which the significance of a digital platform is determined. 3. The charge base of total gross revenue generated in Australia (including GST), aggregated across a company as a whole should provide the basis for determining inclusion in the Incentive. 4. Consideration should be given to enabling smaller publishers to undertake collective bargaining arrangements for the purposes of engagement with the Incentive process, in order to address concerns about the exclusion of smaller news publishers from the News Media Bargaining Code, 5. There should be strengthened reporting requirements around both the funding received by news publishers through the Incentive, and the uses of such funding, to strengthen accountability, transparency and public confidence in the Incentive.

2025-12-18T00:00:00Z Nicholls, Rob https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34496 2025-11-13T01:30:58Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

The Digital Climate Footprint: From Global Data Centre Growth to Local Ecological Consequences Nicholls, Rob This report provides the first integrated analysis linking AI-driven data centre expansion to specific ecological impacts on Australian pollinator communities. As the digital economy undergoes unprecedented growth, the climate implications extend far beyond abstract temperature statistics to measurable risks for critical ecosystems and species.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Bailo, Francesco Flew, Terry Nicholls, Rob Gozman, Daniel https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34476 2026-02-20T02:57:12Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Submission to the 2025 Review of the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation Bailo, Francesco; Flew, Terry; Nicholls, Rob; Gozman, Daniel This submission proposes a reconceptualisation of the Australian Code of Practice on Disinformation and Misinformation. We argue that the current approach conflates two distinct types of harm requiring different policy responses: individual harm from exposure to dangerous content, and collective harm from systemic degradation of information quality across the digital ecosystem. We propose that platforms should be held accountable for preventing individual harm through content moderation, while contributing to ecosystem-wide monitoring of information disorder through a novel persona-based measurement system that protects epistemic rights.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Weatherall, Kimberlee Flew, Terry Bailo, Francesco Gulson, Kalervo Bello-Villarino, Jose-Miguel Gozman, Daniel https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34422 2026-05-04T06:22:08Z 2025-10-21T00:00:00Z

Submission to the Productivity Commission: Harnessing Data and Digital Technology & Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce Weatherall, Kimberlee; Flew, Terry; Bailo, Francesco; Gulson, Kalervo; Bello-Villarino, Jose-Miguel; Gozman, Daniel This submission responds to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Harnessing Data and Digital Technology and Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce. These domains are not merely technical or economic in nature; they are deeply embedded within broader social, cultural, and institutional transformations that demand nuanced and contextually grounded policy responses.

2025-10-21T00:00:00Z Centre for AI, Trust and Governance https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34395 2025-10-13T02:50:50Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Submission to the Productivity Commission: Harnessing Data and Digital Technology & Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce Centre for AI, Trust and Governance This submission responds to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Harnessing Data and Digital Technology and Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce. These domains are not merely technical or economic in nature; they are deeply embedded within broader social, cultural, and institutional transformations that demand nuanced and contextually grounded policy responses.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Flew, Terry Koskie, Timothy Stepnik, Agata https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34025 2025-06-24T05:27:26Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Digital Policy as Problem Space: Policy Formation, Public Opinion, and Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 Flew, Terry; Koskie, Timothy; Stepnik, Agata This article examines Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 as a case study in digital policy formation, focusing on the socio-political processes that shaped its development. Framing the debate through Celia Lury’s concept of “problem spaces,” the paper explores how the issue of youth and social media use is constructed through “givens” (perceived risks), “goals” (protection), and contested “operators” (policy solutions). Drawing on public opinion surveys and stakeholder submissions to a parliamentary inquiry, the article finds widespread public concern about online harms, especially for minors, but sharp disagreement about how best to address them. While the Act’s age restriction was broadly supported by the public and some stakeholders, critics warn of unintended consequences and advocate alternative measures such as media literacy and platform accountability. The case reveals broader tensions in digital governance between public demand for action, legislative responsiveness, and competing visions of youth digital rights.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Brown, Ian Marsden, Chris Nicholls, Rob https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33868 2025-05-05T06:24:07Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Ex Ante Interoperability Regulation for Competitive Digital Markets: Contrasting The European Union, United Kingdom, and Australian Approaches Brown, Ian; Marsden, Chris; Nicholls, Rob In this article, we explain the development of interoperability as an effective behavioral remedy for digital platform dominance, and contrast its inclusion in legal reforms in three (closely-related) advanced economy jurisdictions: the EU, UK, and Australia. In section 2, we explain what interoperability is, its development in European and Australian digital platform law and economics from the 1990s onwards, the curious lack of enforcement in the 2000s, and progress towards its development in the 2010s. In sections 3-5, we analyze the 2020s developments in application of interoperability mandates in the European Union, UK, and Australia. In conclusion, we explain how regulators can ensure greater competition in the largest emerging digital platforms (especially AI), and what role interoperability should play.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Flew, Terry Koskie, Timothy Stepnik, Agata Tang, Wenjia https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33862 2026-05-04T06:22:08Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Nation-State Regulation as Social Media Governance: The Australian Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 Flew, Terry; Koskie, Timothy; Stepnik, Agata; Tang, Wenjia This article analyzes Australia's landmark Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which restricts access to designated social media platforms for individuals under the age of 16. Prompted by rising concerns over youth mental health, ineffective platform self-regulation, and global regulatory shifts, the law mandates age restrictions on major platforms, despite legal, ethical, and technological challenges. We note that the Bill has broad political and public support but has faced criticism from academics and digital rights groups. It reflects a wider trend of nation-state intervention in digital governance and raises questions about the future interplay between government regulation, platform accountability, and children's rights in the evolving digital landscape.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Flew, Terry https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33861 2025-05-02T03:47:03Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Ten Provocations on AI, Trust, and the Future of Communication Flew, Terry As we enter a global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, it is important to bring together the disparate array of conversations, provocations, and prophecies regarding AI and its societal impacts. This article addresses such questions from the standpoint of trust as a concept and communications as a disciplinary field. It notes both historical continuities and areas of discontinuity in these debates and the importance of popular culture as a means of framing AI debates. This article also questions the pessimistic scenario on AI’s likely impact on education, noting that it could be potentially positive for the humanities.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Flew, Terry https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33825 2026-03-04T00:28:35Z 2025-04-17T00:00:00Z

RESPONSE TO DISCUSSION PAPER: A NEW PLAN FOR ARC-FUNDED RESEARCH Policy Review of the National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) Flew, Terry The Discussion Paper for the Australian Research Council National Competitive Grants Program (ARC NCGP) (NCGP Discussion Paper) outlines an agenda for reviewing Commonwealth Government research funding for the higher education sector. This response to the Discussion Paper focuses on the context of declining global rankings for Australian arts and humanities research, the impact of artificial intelligence on the sector, and the future of research infrastructure funding.

2025-04-17T00:00:00Z Weatherall, Kimberlee Flew, Terry https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33653 2026-04-22T01:50:38Z 2025-02-20T00:00:00Z

Submission to the UK Copyright and AI Consultation Weatherall, Kimberlee; Flew, Terry This submission by Professors Kimberlee Weatherall and Terry Flew of the Centre for AI, Trust and Governance at the University of Sydney responds to the UK Copyright and AI Consultation, highlighting key challenges and opportunities in balancing copyright law and AI innovation. The authors commend the Consultation Paper’s recognition of complex conundrums, including the global nature of AI training and the tension between creators’ rights and technological advancement. The submission identifies three main areas of concern: 1. Protection of Individual Creators: The authors emphasize that creators’ interests are often distinct from those of rights holders, advocating for measures such as rights retention for academic authors and inclusion of creator representatives in licensing negotiations. 2. Practical Challenges of Rights Reservation: The authors highlight complexities in the proposed rights reservation mechanism, noting issues arising from multiple ownership structures and the role of online intermediaries. They call for consideration of collective licensing models to streamline negotiations. 3. Transparency Requirements: While supporting transparency obligations for AI developers, the authors stress the importance of reciprocal transparency from rights holders. They also caution against potential legal risks, including exposure to international copyright lawsuits. The submission urges the UK government to adopt a balanced, globally informed approach to copyright and AI regulation, ensuring both the protection of creative industries and the promotion of innovation.

2025-02-20T00:00:00Z