Our aims
The three specific aims of this project were:
- To compare and evaluate current mechanisms for consumer and public engagement in industry rule-making in the advertising, telecommunications, media and online service sectors;
- To develop a framework for evaluating the success and limitations of current engagement mechanisms; and
- To identify the implications of its findings for the future of Australian communications regulation.
Our focus
We focussed on 20 self- and co-regulatory bodies and schemes in effect within the Australian advertising, media, online and telecommunications sectors.
Our methodolgy
The project had two stages:
- In Stage 1 of the project, we mapped consumer and public engagement within the existing industry rule-making frameworks of the Australian advertising, media, online and telecommunications sectors; reviewed overseas developments in consumer and public engagement in the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US); carried out literature reviews and analysed the data collected. This stage was completed at the end of March 2019 and resulted in a Preliminary Report on 14 April 2019, which was used as the basis for Stage 2 of the project.
- In Stage 2 of the project, we conducted three Round Tables, one with each of the following stakeholder groups: consumers, industry and regulators. Material was provided to participants in advance, with the Round Tables focussing on certain issues raised in our Preliminary Report. Following the three Round Tables, we reviewed our information and analysis and produced the report for publication.
What do we mean by ‘public engagement’?
Drawing on a review of the academic literature and our analysis of the Australian communications regulation environment, we use the concept ‘public engagement’ as a collective term to refer to public communication, public consultation and public participation. These terms are represented in the diagram below and explored in more detail in our report.
