The gov's proposed media reforms are a 'take it or leave it' package which, will be dumped if not passed.
TONY Abbott says Labor is attempting to bully media companies, particularly News Limited, into silence after it released its long-awaited reforms for the sector yesterday.
In his first public comments on the matter, Mr Abbott said the Coalition would oppose the reforms in parliament, and if passed he would rescind the measures should the Coalition claim government at the September 14 election.
"The media changes that were rushed out yesterday appear to be a blatant attempt to bully the media, particularly to bully the News (Limited) group into going soft on its quite justifiable criticism of this government," Mr Abbott told 2GB's Ray Hadley.
"We will furiously oppose any attempt to impose additional regulation on the media in opposition and we would rescind it in government Ray. It would just go.
"This is an extraordinary attempt for a liberal democracy to take. I think it's the first time in peacetime we've seen any such draconian attempt to regulate the media."
Prime Minister Julia Gillard denied the changes were an attempt to bully or control control individual media companies.
Communications Minister says he won't "barter" over the media reforms he's announced. Picture: Ray Strange
"I am passionately committed to free speech... And also committed to a diversity of voices," Ms Gillard said.
"What the government is actually doing is supporting self regulation of print, self regulation models that people come together in press councils and form. The government is not directly regulating in any way the activities of journalists the government is not taking away from individual journalists the benefit of shield laws. That is simply not true," Ms Gillard said.
"The only thing the Government is saying is when media organisations come together to create a press council, to create a self regulation model, that that self regulator model should come up to certain standards.
Ms Gillard also rejected claims by News Limited CEO Kim Williams that the changes amounted to the biggest attack on freedom of speech since World War II by introducing government-sanctioned journalism and that the privacy .
"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," Mr Williams said .
Kim Williams sees the reforms as an attempt to gag and control the media.
“That's absolute nonsense," the Prime Minister said. "… the media industry says to me that they believe in self regulation well tick, so do I. If your going to have self regulation then well it seems to me it should be self regulation that works," Ms Gillard said.
Ms Gillard also insisted the public advocate appointed by government to investigate further consolidation of the print media would remain entirely impartial, comparing the government's role in appointing the advocate to that it takes in appointing the high court.
"It would be appropriate should there be further consolidation in our media industry for someone independent who got to make an assessment about what this means for the diversity of voices in our democracy and our debate," she said.
The planned measures announced by the government include the establishment of a "Public Interest Media Advocate'', among a raft of changes.
The advocate would oversee the Press Council, the main vehicle for complaints about the print media, and could take back exemptions from privacy laws afforded to journalists to report valid news stories if the advocate deemed there was a breach of standards.
The federal government announces changes to the way the media is regulated with new legislation. Sky News
Power to determine if media mergers could proceed would be given to the government appointed advocate while the proposed scrapping of a key regional-reach rule, which would assist Channel Nine in a proposed $4 billion merger with Southern Cross, was also announced.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy this morning defended his slated changes, rejecting suggestions they amount to government-sanctioned journalism.
Speaking on ABC radio, Senator Conroy stood by his take-it-or-leave-it demand that parliament pass his legislation by Thursday week, even though it has yet to be made public.
The fate of the proposed changes now hang on whether the government can secure the Greens and the votes of four independents.
But independent MP Bob Katter has demanded Labor agree to allow an independent body to appoint the advocate it wants to oversee print and online media before it gets his backing for media law changes.
He also has vowed to "die in the ditch" fighting any attempt to remove a rule that prevents television networks from broadcasting to more than 75 per cent of viewers.
Mr Katter said he would be "seriously considering" his position if Senator Conroy did not make the concession.
Meanwhile, Senator Conroy has also rejected claims that the changes amounted to the biggest attack on freedom of speech since World War II by introducing government-sanctioned journalism.
"That's simply not the case," Senator Conroy said, adding Australians wanted the press to be accountable, unlike the "lapdog" the Press Council had become.
Meanwhile critics continue to line up to reject the Government's media reform legislation, which has been likened to Soviet-style control of information.
Former press council head David Flint compared the government's appointed advocate to Soviet regimes which he said "chose names which were completely contrary to what was the truth''.
"It is dangerous...it will give the government a power it should never have, the power to determine the content of the press. The press is there as a check and balance against the government,'' he said.
Fairfax Media CEO Greg Hywood said there was "no evidence'' there was a problem to solve in Australia.
"We can't see the purpose of further regulation of news publications,'' he said.
The Coalition will oppose legislation due to be introduced later this week. "Freedom is at stake, liberty is at stake, democracy is at stake,'' Coalition communication spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said.
Australian Press Council Chairman Julian Disney said the situation was concerning.
"The council, with the support of the media industry, has strengthened itself significantly. If other councils are not going to be required to meet the standards we have now and are working towards, this will be a race to the bottom,'' he said.
Nine chief David Gyngell was spotted leaving parliament. While Nine would not comment on the changes, incoming Channel 10 CEO Hamish McLennan welcomed news there would be a permanent 50 per cent reduction in licensing fees in return for the broadcast of more Australian content.
But he said the proposed scrapping of the 75 per cent-reach rule, which will be rushed through a committee, was alarming.
"We are alarmed that this inquiry is being rushed and that the Government thinks it can be done and dusted in just one day. What is the hurry? People living in regional Australia deserve better and should be asking why this is being pushed through with such haste,'' he said.
The government has also asked a parliamentary committee to consider program supply agreements "as part of determining whether a person is in control of a commercial television broadcasting service.''
News Ltd has recently forged a partnership with Channel 10 for the program Meet the Press. Fairfax has at times had a similar arrangement, conducting joint investigations with Four Corners, but this would not be considered as the ABC is not a commercial station.
The Punch: Media reforms may fall at last hurdle
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