Corporate CEOs welcome reform deal and ABC scrutiny

Fairfax Media and Seven West Media have backed a tighter focus on the public broadcasters.

Seven West Media chief executive Tim Worner. Photo: Kym Smith

Media leaders have welcomed the Turnbull government’s deal with One Nation over the media reform package, with Fairfax Media and Seven West Media backing the tighter focus on the public broadcasters.

The government has agreed to a trifecta of sweeteners with Pauline Nation’s One Nation, including measures to increase the ABC’s regional focus, financial transparency and political impartiality.

Other amendments include a competitive neutrality inquiry into the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Special Broadcasting Service. The government will also legislate a requirement for the ABC to be ‘fair’ and ‘balanced’.

“As far as Fairfax is concerned the industry consensus is that the ABC and SBS already receive adequate funding,” said a spokesman for Fairfax, noting the Greens pushed for more funding.

“Both have been using part of that public funding to undercut commercial operators and that has created significant concern in the commercial industry.”

Seven West Media chief executive Tim Worner said: “Seven has consistently called for a broad reform package that will truly empower free-to-air broadcasters to meet the increasing pace of change that we are facing. So naturally we very much welcome One Nation’s support for the media reform package currently before the Senate.

“We are extremely pleased with the initiatives announced by Senator Hanson. The national broadcasters have a valuable role to play but it is time to have a good look at whether they are competing with commercial media on fair terms and whether they are doing enough for regional Australia.”

A spokesman for News Corp Australia, publisher of The Australian, praised One Nation for recognising how tech giants like Facebook and Google have reshaped and upended the media landscape.

“Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has taken a pragmatic approach to the issues of media reform and News Corp welcomes their contribution which demonstrates an understanding of the need for change in face of fundamental disruption,” said a News Corp spokesman.

“But there is work still to be done to and we understand that Senator Nick Xenophon and his team remain in negotiations with the government on the crucial need to secure the future of local journalism.”

The ABC declined to comment.

A spokeswoman for regional television and radio operator Southern Cross Austereo, said: “SCA welcomes One Nation’s support of the Media Reform Bills. Given its clear the Labor Party has no intention of supporting much needed reform to modernise media regulation, we now encourage the other cross benchers in the Senate to support the Bill.”

Ten Network chief executive Paul Anderson, said: “In making this decision, One Nation has recognised that the media landscape has changed completely in recent years and that these reforms are vital if we are going to have a strong local media industry going forward.”

The Commercial Radio Australia also weighed in, endorsing a direct invest­ment of $12 million for ­community radio.
A spokeswoman for CRA said: “The commercial radio industry is pleased to see that One Nation will support the broadcast reform package. Radio is still the most used and relevant live and local medium across metropolitan and regional Australia.

“If passed by the federal Parliament this package will help to ensure local media has a chance to evolve and grow and to continue to nurture Australian content and voices.”

A Channel Nine spokeswoman said the network was pleased by One Nation’s decision to support the law changes.

“We welcome One Nation’s support. This is much needed reform and we hope that others will also support this very important reform.”

Pamela Longstaff, acting CEO of commercial TV trade group Free TV Australia, also added support for One Nation’s deal with the government.
A planned overhaul of the laws — originally designed to guarantee competition in a pre-internet era — has gathered unanimous cross-industry support for the first time under Communications and Arts Minister Mitch Fifield.

The journalists union has lambasted the Coalition’s agreement with Senator Hanson and labelled the competitive neutrality inquiry “a dangerous step”.

MEAA CEO Paul Murphy said the competitive neutrality inquiry was “a dangerous step”.

“The government has succumbed to the baiting of One Nation senators and their obsession with one of Australia’s most trusted and respected institutions,” he said.

Foxtel declined to comment.