Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Hansard source

The convergence review recommended revised media ownership arrangements at the local and national level to ensure that they remain targeted and effective in a converged media environment; a revised minimum number of owners rule to capture all media operators that have an influence in a local market; and a national public interest test that would apply to transactions involving large media enterprises. The committee also recommended that these measures include some major media operators like national newspapers and subscription television providers.

The government is giving careful consideration to the review’s recommendations and, as I have previously stated, the government will bring forward a package of further measures to deal with, amongst other things, issues associated with a public interest test. But I am not going to pre-empt the consideration of cabinet and I am not going to pre-empt the consideration of my caucus colleagues by opining on the floor of the Senate. (Time expired)