Independents Turn Down Media Bill

Date: 19 June 2003

Alliance Online

Alliance lobbyists are confident that the Federal Government is unlikely to reach agreement with independent Senators to pass the Media Ownership Bill.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill next week, with the government needing four votes from among the four independents and seven Democrats. Labor and the Greens have pledged to vote no.

Federal Secretary Christopher Warren and SMH journalist Anne Davies met with Senators in Canberra on Monday. However, media reports indicate that the Government is now talking to the Democrats about a possible deal on the bill.

The bill would result in a significant concentration of ownership in Australia, possibly reducing the media to two major corporations.

For further information

Contact:	Christopher Warren
Union:	MEAA
Phone:	1300 656 512
Fax:	02 9333 0933
Email:	mail@alliance.org.au
WWW:	http://www.alliance.org.au

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