Communications minister Stephen Conroy has expressed concerns about Gina Rinehart's growing Australian media assets, suggesting current ownership laws need to be tougher.
“We do need tougher media laws," Conroy said. "We are in danger of one or two individuals controlling all of the print industry in this country which isn't a healthy situation so we do need tougher laws.
“We have got a review going to look at what we need, we absolutely need a public interest test, it is up for discussion out there in the broader community.”
Conroy's comments follow speculation that Rinehart's buyout of around 15% of Fairfax may be part of her strategy to influence Fairfax's radio division, using the power of talkback to assert her personal interests.
In a recent article in The Sydney Morning Herald's The Good Weekend, Rinehart's close friend John Singleton, who controls Macquarie Radio Network, spoke of the power of the influence he and Rinehart have already exerted across the radio airwaves.
Singleton said: “We have been able to overtly and covertly attack governments ... Because we have people employed by us like Andrew Bolt and Alan Jones and Ray Hadley who agree with her thinking about the development of our resources, we act in concert in that way.”
Yesterday, media analysts reported that the reaction to Rinehart's bid in Fairfax was “hysterical” and wouldn't have an immediate or important influence on the new agenda, however Rinehart has continually made her mining interests clear with her direct opposition to the government's proposed mining tax.
Conroy said: “What we are seeing is somebody who doesn't believe that Australians should share in the mineral boom the wealth that has been created that doesn't support the tax we introduced which shares, shares the wealth."
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