Key federal independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor have sounded the death knell for the Government's controversial media reforms in their current form.

Mr Oakeshott confirmed he would not vote for any of the six bills, while Mr Windsor said the short timeframe had crippled Labor's chances of pushing through the reforms.

Crossbench support for the reform package would be crucial if the bills made it to a parliamentary vote, which Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said would not happen if the support was not there.

Proposed media reforms The appointment of a Public Interest Media Advocate (PIMA) to oversee self-regulatory bodies such as the Press Council.

The appointment of a Public Interest Media Advocate (PIMA) to oversee self-regulatory bodies such as the Press Council. The PIMA, who will be appointed by the Minister, will decree whether a media complaints handling body is "authorised". Only media organisations that are members of an authorised body are able to maintain their exemptions to privacy laws.

The PIMA, who will be appointed by the Minister, will decree whether a media complaints handling body is "authorised". Only media organisations that are members of an authorised body are able to maintain their exemptions to privacy laws. The PIMA will also use a new public interest test to allow or prevent nationally significant media mergers.

The PIMA will also use a new public interest test to allow or prevent nationally significant media mergers. An extension of the Government's commercial television licence fee rebate - saving free-to-air television networks an estimated $134 million this financial year.

An extension of the Government's commercial television licence fee rebate - saving free-to-air television networks an estimated $134 million this financial year. A removal of the 75 per cent audience reach rule that prevents metropolitan television stations from owning partners in regional areas.

A removal of the 75 per cent audience reach rule that prevents metropolitan television stations from owning partners in regional areas. An update to the charters governing the ethics and behaviour of the ABC and SBS to reflect online and digital activities.

However, Senator Conroy has since backed away from his refusal to negotiate, saying he will continue to lobby the crossbenchers to back the reforms.

"I'm disappointed about Rob but I'm going to keep talking to the independents," he told Channel Ten.

Mr Windsor told Lateline there was not enough support for all six bills to get through, but there may be hope if the Government broke up the package.

Mr Oakeshott told ABC's 7.30 there was "enormous dissent" surrounding the six media bills and the policy needed deeper consideration.

His decision comes as the chiefs of some of the nation's major media organisations fronted a Senate committee to voice their opposition to what they say are dangerous reforms.

The Government's proposed reforms would see a public interest media advocate appointed, a public interest test implemented for major media mergers and an update to the ABC and SBS charters.

Mr Oakeshott said his decision merely formalised views he expressed when the bills were introduced last week.

"I won't be supporting any of the six bills and I've informed the Prime Minister of that today, both verbally and in writing," he said.

"There's enormous dissent not only from proprietors which is the least of the worry, but from key regulators and also from content providers.

"For the first time in a long time the majority of writers, producers, directors, actors are all saying there's issues in there for them as well."

'It'll be dead'

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 15 minutes 28 seconds 15 m Windsor says media laws unlikely to pass ( Emma Alberici )

A Senate committee has until June to consider the bills, but Senator Conroy has insisted that both houses of Parliament deal with them this week.

Mr Windsor, who has been critical of the short timeframe, said that given a take-it-or-leave-it proposal, he would pass.

"Given the timeframe that has been given to deal with us, I think a number on the crossbenches are saying 'If it's take it or leave it, we think we'll leave it for the time being'," he said.

"I would leave it and I think it'll be dead.

"If the Government decides to cut it into segments, there may be a chance of getting the numbers to get some of it up.

"But I think in relation to the advocate, for instance, that seems to be a real issue with some within the press. I doubt very much whether the numbers are there for that to go ahead."

However, Mr Windsor said there was interest among parliamentarians for reforming the media.

"I got to talk to some of the media people today; not everybody's of the Kim Williams' view of the world," he said.

"A lot of the print and television media do see concerns long term there in terms of the scrutiny of the media and the way in which the Press Council has worked in the past and how it possibly should work in the future. But they don't like having the imposition of a government regulation upon them."

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie says he has some concerns, while former Labor MP Craig Thomson says he will vote against the bills.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 7 minutes 24 seconds 7 m War of words rages on over media reforms

News Limited chief executive Kim Williams told senators on Monday the proposed laws were a direct attack on free speech.

"We believe these bills must be rejected. We say so not as the Minister says in 'hysterical' reaction, but rather because the proposals will affect every Australian and the quality of their democracy," he said.

"This is bad legislation with a bad process, which can only have a bad, severely detrimental outcome."

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes told the inquiry he had "never seen anything so intrusive" as the proposed laws.

The Drum: What a stitch-up When 32 of the nation's best-known male TV presenters gathered for a photo shoot two weeks ago, they didn't expect to be used as the mouthpiece for a News Limited campaign against Stephen Conroy's media reforms, writes the ABC's Michael Rowland.

He also said the government-appointed public interest media advocate would have too much power.

"I think there are ways that that could be achieved without the sledgehammer of putting somebody over the top of everybody who has no appeal process," he said.

"[They] will have the capacity and power to, in the end result, remove the privacy from a publisher and as a result of that you wouldn't get things like Eddie Obeid being discovered, you wouldn't get the investigative journalism which is so important to a free democracy to actually ensure our standing.

"He has a power to actually change that and I find that scary."

Fairfax chief executive Greg Hywood told the committee he feared the public interest media advocate could be pressured by a minister or a government to shut down critical media reporting.

"Regulation of the media should be last resort of any democratic government and be as light a touch as possible to achieve a clear public good," he said.

"It is our strong view the fact that a government feels it is not getting a fair go from one or other media outlet is a very poor reason to regulate - in fact it is the worst reason."

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