Changes to media ownership laws have passed through the lower house of Parliament unscathed despite opposition from Labor.
The long overdue media reforms abolish rules that prevent media companies from owning two out of three forms of traditional media (newspapers, radio and TV stations) and also broadcasting to more than 75% of the population.
The passage through the lower house was always likely because the Coalition government controls a marginal majority of 76 seats versus 69 for Labor and five from independents and minor parties.
The bill will now move to the Senate where the Coalition will require cross-bench support to pass.
Labor opposes abolishing the two-out-of-three rule, which was drafted in the 1990s to prevent media barons from controlling too many forms of media.
In reality, the laws are already redundant because the Murdochs have interests in newspapers and digital media (News Corp), radio (Nova Entertainment) and pay TV (Foxtel), all of which are broadcast to more than 75% of the country.
The changes are particularly urgent for regional media to survive in advertising markets that are in decline.
If ushered through, it is likely to spark a round of media consolidation with several cross media mergers already rumoured.
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