Media reform can only take place if all the major players reach consensus on the issue, prime minister Tony Abbott has said.
The communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, put forward proposals to Abbott earlier this year to reform traditional media in the face of increasing pressure from online sources.
Current regulations prohibit a person or corporation controlling a commercial television licence, a commercial radio licence and a newspaper in the same market. A single owner cannot control commercial television licences reaching more than 75% of the Australian population.
But Abbott on Thursday put changes to ownership and reach rules on ice by saying they would only proceed once they had the consensus of major players.
“The trouble with media reform is that all too often it is a question of pitting one business’s interests against another business’s interests,” the prime minister told reporters.
“That’s why I would urge all of those who would like to see change here to sit down, hammer out something which is good for everyone and once that’s done, obviously the government is prepared to look at it.”
Competing commercial interests in an already concentrated media market means that consensus between all parties is unlikely to occur.
Former News Corp boss John Hartigan, now the chairman of the Prime regional television network, has had a serve at Abbott in the Australian Financial Review for protecting media magnates Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Stokes.
“This is the prime minster’s bloody-minded captain’s pick to look after a couple of media mates,” Hartigan said.
Murdoch has been critical of the reforms, tweeting in March that they favour his rivals at the Nine Network.
Aust! Turnbull's plans to scrap certain rules suit buddies at Nine. Can't oppose dumping all regs but not this. Nice to see how MT plays.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) March 15, 2015
Hartigan said reforms are needed to fortify regional newspapers and television networks.
“The regional community risks losing their voice unless the reforms of media is put back on the table,” he said. “The only way to secure our future and the future of regional news services is if we update media laws.”
“That will allow mergers and acquisitions that achieve economies of scale,” Hartigan continued. “We’re trying to keep jobs and we lost the argument because of the interests of two proprietors.”
The assistant social services minister, Mitch Fifield, said he was not concerned the fate of regional news.
“I think local media will always exist. Local media plays an important role in providing news and information to the local community,” he told reporters on Thursday. “This government is, and will continue to be, a strong supporter of local media.”
From next week, Prime will join other regional news outlets in a wide-ranging ad campaign aimed at pressuring the government into putting media reforms back on the agenda.
