Cabinet to discuss media reform
The Federal cabinet will meet today to discuss media minister Stephen Conroy’s plans for law reform, The Australian Financial Review reports.
According to the AFR report on the agenda will be new laws covering media ownership and privacy.
The newspaper suggests that the rules would still prevent News Corporation from expanding its influence by acquiring Australian free-to-air television or radio businesses. Later this year, News Corp will split into two. In most parts of the world Fox Group will hold its TV and film interests. However, in Australia, the company’s 50% ownership of Foxtel and ownership of Fox Sports will remain part 0f News Limited alongside its newspapers as part of the new News Corp.
Other items understood to be up for discussion include: a code of ethics for journalists, a tort of privacy and increased Australian content rules for FTA networks.
The discussion comes amid concern among some in Labor about media reform and the risk to Labor of annoying media bosses in an election year. Late last year Stephen Conroy was forced to split up his media reform legislation in order to push through elements of the plan through the Senate.
