Conroy announces sweeping media reforms

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Sorry, this video has expired Video: Stephen Conroy announces sweeping reforms (ABC News)

The Federal Government has announced sweeping changes to media laws, including stronger self-regulation and a new public interest test for significant media company takeovers and mergers.

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has also announced the ABC and SBS charters will be updated to take into account their online and digital content.

Commercial television licence fees will be permanently cut by 50 per cent on the condition the channels increase their Australian content by 1,490 hours by 2015.

Senator Conroy says the changes will ensure a media sector that is fair and diverse.

"The Government passionately believes in freedom of the press as the cornerstone of democracy," he said.

"At the same time, the Government believes that a democracy needs a diversity of voices within its media - this is essential."

He also announced plans to establish a new watchdog to ensure that media companies comply with independent journalism standards.

The Public Interest Media Advocate would be responsible for overseeing self-regulatory bodies, such as the Australian Press Council, to make sure that complaints are dealt with properly.

The advocate would also be put in charge of assessing whether media company mergers pass a new "public interest test".

"Media organisations have obligations to the Australian public," Senator Conroy said.

"This includes obligations to fairness in reporting, as well as providing timely responses to complaints and criticism.

"The Government's plans balance these rights with these obligations."

'Difficult issues'

But the Government has delayed some decisions, referring several contentious elements of media reform to a new parliamentary committee.

It will look into the "reach rule" which prevents a metropolitan television broadcaster from buying regional stations and broadcast to more than 75 per cent of the population.

Keeping the rule may be key to securing the support of crossbench MPs.

Independent MP Rob Oakeshott says he is disappointed with the announcement.

"Some of the more difficult issues in Yes Minister-style are getting flicked to a committee," he said.

"If that's where the difficult public policy issues are going to get parked, my initial reaction is unless it's all in, I'm out."

The changes were agreed by Cabinet this morning before going to Labor's Caucus for approval.

'Freedom at stake'

Senator Conroy has imposed a two week deadline on Parliament to pass the changes, declaring he will not be held hostage on the issue.

"Let me be very clear about this - the Government will not be bartering," he said.

"If either of these reforms do not garner sufficient support to pass the Parliament by the end of next week, then the Government will not proceed with the bills containing them."

Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull has described the plan as a "half-baked" series of thought bubbles.

"It is an attempt to regulate the media because they don't like what you've been saying and writing about them," he said.

He accused the Government of trying to bully the Parliament by holding a gun to its head.

"Freedom's at stake, liberty's at stake, democracy's at stake," Mr Turnbull said.

Media companies react

Three of the commercial television networks have cautiously welcomed some of the changes.

The Ten Network said it was pleased the Government will maintain lower license fees and change local content rules.

But it slammed the new public interest test, describing it as unworkable and unnecessary.

It also expressed alarm at what it called the "rushed" inquiry into the reach rule.

But Nine says the proposed changes to the reach rule will create a better deal for viewers in regional Australia.

Seven West Media, which owns Channel Seven and the West Australian Newspaper, welcomed the permanent reduction in license fees, and changes to local content rules.

But it has attacked the proposed public interest test for company mergers as a move that will hinder diversity, not protect it.

It also described new regulation covering print media as an unprecedented move that would threaten a free press.

Meanwhile News Limited chief executive Kim Williams lashed the changes to media laws as a "sad day for Australian democracy".

Mr Williams described the proposed changes to privacy provisions as a bid by the Federal Government to gag the media.

"This government will go down in history as the first Australian government outside of wartime to attack freedom of speech by seeking to introduce a regime which effectively institutes government sanctioned journalism," he said in a statement.

He also said the planned "public interest" test of company mergers would not protect media diversity.

Topics: media, business-economics-and-finance, industry, television-broadcasting, broadcasting, radio-broadcasting, journalism, information-and-communication, abc, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia

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