Public consultation on the Media Industry Development Draft Bill will begin from next week.
The Fiji Government says a review of the Act that came into effect in June, 2010 is currently underway to update and reform media laws in Fiji.
They say as part of efforts for the review and reform of the Act, a Bill has been drafted for consultations.
A public consultation will be held to allow for interested individuals or organisations to provide their views and comments on the Act and draft Bill.
A consultation will be held at Suvavou House on Thursday next week.
A copy of the draft Bill will be made available from Monday.
The Media Industry Development Act or MIDA came into force as a decree with a 1 day consultation led by the then Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
The decree was promulgated despite opposition from media industry players and the members of the public.
The decree and then the Act was termed as draconian with many punitive measures.
According to the People’s Alliance manifesto - in the first 100 days they aim to remove laws and decrees that undermine human rights and media freedom.
The NFP has said in the past that a NFP Government will repeal the Media Industry Development Decree because they believe the media should not be regulated in any way by the State or any Government.
We are currently trying to get a copy of the draft Bill.
Questions have been sent to the Attorney General Siromi Turaga and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Manoa Kamikamica.
