The Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie has called Federal Labor Senator Stephen Conroy to account over media regulation.
During Senate question time today, Senator McKenzie grilled the Government Senator over Federal Labor’s proposed “public interest criteria” that media acquisitions would have to meet under the reforms.
Labor’s Senator Conroy responded with a bumbling contradiction by stating:
“The public interest test talks about whether or not there is a reduction in voices, whether or not the reach is affected, whether or not there is a sustainability position whereby you might lose the voice completely if you do not allow it to merge. It is about the reach of the voices.”
These voices that Senator Conroy keeps hearing, must not be the voices of journalists and editors across the nation that he seeks to muzzle with these reforms.
“The only voice Senator Conroy isn’t hearing is the voice of Regional Australia,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The proposed media reforms are just another of Federal Labor’s relentless attacks on free speech,” Senator McKenzie said.
The Nationals will oppose the legislation that is due to be introduced later this week.
To view the full dialogue from today’s Senate question time visit
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hanssen261110