Media laws to hit parliament this week
This week, the Federal Government’s media ownership amendment bill will go before parliament and given the emergence of some spirited opposition from within Coalition ranks, the bill looks set to be in for a rough ride. Late on Friday, a Senate inquiry report found that regional diversity was a key concern. While the laws aim to relax restrictions that currently prevent one media player owning a diverse range of media companies, the report endorsed the National’s call for regional players to only be allowed to own a maximum of two out of the three mediums of newspaper, radio and television. And while some National senators are threatening to cross the floor over the issue, this is not the only contentious point. Dr Tim Dwyer is a lecturer in Media Policy and Research at the University of Western Sydney. He recently completed a study on the likely impact the laws changes would have on regional areas. He discussed his findings.