SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Media ownership reforms before parliament

The federal government has reintroduced media ownership legislation designed to boost competitiveness.

News Corp newspapers The Australian and The Daily Telegraph
The federal government has reintroduced media ownership reforms designed to boost competitiveness. (AAP)

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Archaic media regulations that restrict growth and takeovers in television, radio and newspapers would be scrapped under new ownership legislation before the federal parliament.

The government reintroduced the reform package on Thursday, after the federal election stalled earlier progress.

Government frontbencher Paul Fletcher said the changes would allow media businesses to gain the scale necessary to compete in an increasingly fragmented market.

"While traditional commercial television and radio platforms are still well loved by Australians they are not the only sources of video, audio and news content," he told parliament on Thursday.

The package scraps the rule that prevents a company controlling more than two of the three media types - radio, television or newspapers - in an area, and another rule that prohibits a proprietor from controlling a TV licence reaching more than 75 per cent of the population.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Mr Fletcher said those rules no longer made sense in the digital environment.

Labor supports scrapping the reach restrictions, but is yet to take a formal position on axing the two-out-of-three rule.

Former communications minister Stephen Conroy says the issue hasn't gone to shadow cabinet.

Broadcaster-turned-senator Derryn Hinch was also waiting to see what's in the government's legislation.

"I sound like a politician, I haven't formed an opinion," he told reporters.

"But hey, I'm a journo and the less regulation in media in my view the better."

Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm will wait to see the details but is also sympathetic to deregulation.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world