Sandra Levy, Julie Flynn and Robert Kerr to head public broadcasting inquiry

The Turnbull Government has announced the panel that will conduct its inquiry into the competitive neutrality of the public broadcasters.

The panel will be chaired by Robert Kerr, a former head of staff at the Commonwealth Productivity Commission. He was also a Commissioner of the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, where he conducted public inquiries into regulatory issues.

Kerr will be joined on the panel by former ABC director of television Sandra Levy and former Free TV CEO Julie Flynn.

The inquiry will examine whether Australia’s national public broadcasters – the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) – are operating in a manner consistent with the principles of competitive neutrality.

Competitive neutrality principles provide that government business activities should not enjoy net competitive advantages simply by virtue of their public sector ownership.

The panel will consult relevant stakeholders during the inquiry and be supported by a Taskforce in the Department of Communications and the Arts.