Boundary changes hit Nathan Rees

Nathan Rees. Picture: Cameron Mitch Source: The Daily Telegraph

NATHAN Rees's seat will be turned into an O'Farrell government electorate under boundary changes pushed by the former Labor premier's own political party.

Mr Rees, a left-winger who is seen as a leadership threat to Opposition Leader John Robertson, has been disliked by the party's head office since he suggested that Kristina Keneally would be a "puppet of Eddie Obeid and Joe Tripodi".

He will now have to fight to keep his seat under proposals his party has sent to the NSW Electoral Commission.

Liberal sources are bemused Mr Rees, who holds his seat by 205 votes or 0.3 per cent, would have that margin pushed out to more than 2 per cent by the proposed changes.

"I will do what's in the best interests of the party," Mr Rees said yesterday.

Labor's general secretary Sam Dastyari said he expected Mr Rees to retain his seat.

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Media law changes 'foolish': Xenophon

South Australian Federal Senator Nick Xenophon at Adelaide Airport . Source: Getty Images

INDEPENDENT senator Nick Xenophon has warned the government against implementing new media laws in an election year.

Federal cabinet is expected to consider media reforms when it meets later today.

The package will include a code of ethics for journalists, a tort of privacy and increased Australian content rules.

"Any government that wants to change media laws at this stage has more than a death wish," he told reporters in Canberra this morning, adding it would be "extremely foolish".

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is likely to argue for a change to media ownership rules that would prevent further expansion of the Murdoch empire, The Australian Financial Review said.

Under existing laws, media moguls are restricted to control of two out of three media platforms including commercial television, radio or newspapers.

Senator Conroy is expected to ask cabinet to change this restriction to "two out of four", adding pay TV to the list.

Nationals senator John Williams said the government was unlikely to introduce any controversial legislation before the September 14 election.

"They will take the easy road out," he said.

"If they get into any controversy at all, they run the risk of losing more support."

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