John Murphy (Lowe, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I again raise my grave concerns about the government’s shotgun inquiry into the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006. This particular bill goes to the heart of our democracy. This bill is a serious public interest matter. I am not going to stop speaking about this government allowing our two biggest media companies to own television stations, radio stations, newspapers and monopoly pay television and not allowing a fourth free-to-air television network, while at the same time allowing those media companies to get a stranglehold on new media and the internet. This is an absolute disgrace. Senator Coonan has behaved in the most venal way. She should be flogged, and so should the Prime Minister, for handing over our democracy to News Ltd and PBL.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Do you think that calling for a cabinet minister to be flogged is parliamentary? I ask you to rule on that.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member is in order.

John Murphy (Lowe, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is an assault on our democracy. We have to keep speaking out on it. Barnaby Joyce and the member for Hinkler must keep steady nerves and defeat this media ownership bill, because it will slaughter our democracy. We cannot afford to allow the power to be handed over to News Ltd— (Time expired)