Media reforms get the go ahead

THE Turnbull Government has sealed a major victory after winning support for the most significant media reforms in more than a decade.

The Senate crossbench last night approved a package overhauling outdated media laws after Nick Xenophon successfully extracted a $60.4 million “regional and small publishers jobs and innovation package”.

Communications Minister Mitch Fifield gained the votes of the three NXT senators late on Wednesday night having already won the backing from the four One Nation senators, Derryn Hinch, Lucy Gichuhi and David Leyonhjelm.

The changes will abolish the two-out-of-three ownership rule and the 75 per cent audience reach rule that the media industry has blamed for creating an uneven playing field against online rivals.

Part of Senator Xenophon’s deal includes a consumer watchdog probe into the role of Google and Facebook.

Senator Xenophon said parliament “cannot ignore the pressures” media companies face when up against global tech giants.

Broadcasting licence fees will also be abolished and changes made to the antisiphoning list, while more restrictions will be placed on gambling advertising during live sporting events.

The ownership rule, which prevents a company controlling a radio station, television network and newspaper in a single market, was the key reason Labor and the Greens rejected the deal.

The Xenophon deal will provide a financial boost to regional and small publishers through grants, scholarships and a cadetship program.

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller welcomed the reforms.

“These reforms are important. They will better enable the nation’s media operations, particularly in regional areas, to have certainty and invest in local communities and jobs in appropriate ways for a multiplatform digital age,” Mr Miller said.