For a straight answer, ask a Kerry

KERRY Stokes wanted answers not questions. Kim Williams told his inquisitors he was being subjected to a "modern-day star chamber".

KERRY Stokes wanted answers not questions. Kim Williams told his inquisitors he was being subjected to a "modern-day star chamber".

And disagreements between competing television networks aside, the A-list rollcall of media industry executives who filed to Canberra yesterday were united in their opposition to Labor's proposed media reforms.

As the first billionaire to front up to a parliamentary committee since Kerry Packer's famous appearance 20 years ago, Mr Stokes was in imperious form.

GRAPHIC: Media execs' statements

Like Packer, he was an indomitable force, taking on Labor MP Doug Cameron and Greens MP Scott Ludlam, who both failed to unsettle the media tycoon.

The Seven West Media chairman gave onlookers, including his son Ryan Stokes, who sat beside him, a masterclass in politicking as he batted away questions to become a crusader for Australian values and free speech.

On the issue of introducing government oversight on press regulation, Mr Stokes said he was at a loss for words and expressed "grave reservations".

"I'm trying for the life of me to understand what we could possibly have done to warrant such intrusive laws that are now being proposed," he said.

"It seems to us our (press) council works, our public are being satisfied and we could not be seen to be in any way related to any problem you're anticipating."

Mr Stokes turned the spotlight on Nine's potential $4 billion merger with Southern Cross while raising questions about the future of vital regional news services.

"The reason the debate has been brought on so suddenly is because there is an imminent merger being considered that normally wouldn't be a provenance of this parliament or committee," he said.

"We have two unknown New York hedge funds that intend to merge with a well-known Australian bank in Macquarie and I can from 40 years experience I've never seen bankers come together for the community."Mr Williams, News Limited chief executive, was also combative, threatening to take the government all the way to the High Court. "This is a modern day star chamber, no more, no less," he told the parliamentary inquiry into Communications Minister Stephen Conroy's media reform bills. "We believe these bills must be rejected. I struggle to understand what is driving the government's desire other than one to corral and gag the media."

News Limited, publisher of The Australian, would "immediately seek recourse in the High Court", he warned. "The PIMA (Public Interest Media Advocate) will be a person with absolute powers, whose decisions cannot be appealed on their merits," he said. "This is a staggering and I hope unacceptable disregard for fundamental rights at law. This is bad legislation with a bad process, which can only have a bad, severely detrimental outcome."

The committee chairman, Senator Cameron, repeatedly goaded Mr Williams, but he stuck to his guns. The News Limited chief said the proposals represented a "breach of constitutional rights" and "direct assault" on independent journalism. Mr Williams said the PIMA, which is appointed by, and beholden to, government, was "fundamentally inconsistent with a free press".

Ten Network chief executive Hamish McLennan, in his first official day in the job, also argued that the reform bills did not promote diversity and would lead to more concentration. "If the thrust of the debate is around media diversity you're going to see more concentration, and a lack of diversity," he said.

He also criticised the way in which the draft bills were being rammed through parliament after they were submitted late on Friday night. "We're trying to digest what that means. It's complex, I think regional Australia deserves better and you need time. I don't think you can rush it through in a couple of days."

In November 1991, Packer appeared before the parliamentary print media inquiry. In a performance filled with trademark belligerence, Packer - who was seeking to buy Fairfax at the time - was brutal in the way he dismissed his inquisitors.