The Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) Deputy Chairman, Richard Bean, will take on the role of Acting Chairman, effective Saturday 27 February, while Full-time Authority Member James Cameron will become Acting Deputy Chair.

The changes, confirmed by the Minister for Communications Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield today, follow the retirement tomorrow of Chris Chapman at the conclusion of his 10-year tenure at the ACMA (consisting of two five-year appointments). 

At Canberra's Senate Estimates Committee this week, ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman made his last appearance before parliament and outlined the achievements during his term heading up Australia's communications regulatory authority.

Deputy Chair Richard Bean is expected to take over the regulator in the interim until a formal appointment is made.

Chapman told the Senate committee:
 

ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman has written to broadcasters reporting on the success so far of the new flexibility ACMA has to decide whether to investigate complaints.

Comment from Peter Saxon

Shortly, if not already, Southern Cross Austereo, owners of 2Day FM should receive notification of the penalty that the ACMA will impose on them for having breached a condition of their Broadcasting Licence. The breach, according to the ACMA, is that they have used their licence in the commission of a criminal offence by contravening section 11.1 of the NSW Surveillance Devices act of 2007 in relation to what has now become known as The Royal Prank. SCA have 15 days to consider it before it is made public. 

After speaking to the ACMA's Chris Chapman about the High Court ruling, radioinfo sought comment from Commercial Radio Australia and Southern Cross Austereo.

Peter Saxon talks to him one on one

It takes many components to run a successful radio station in Australia – talent, equipment, management, finance… but the one thing a station cannot operate without is a broadcast licence.

After a crucial decision in the High Court, last week, the man pictured, Chris Chapman, Chairman of The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) now has way too much power in the view of not just the Radio Industry but Television too.

ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman has welcomed the High Court decision to empower the ACMA to make decisions in cases regarding criminal law.