One Nation wins ABC changes in media reform deal
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party has given the government's media reforms "conditional support" in exchange for a $12 million boost to community radio funding and changes to the ABC,
including a greater focus on regional areas, more financial transparency and increasing its political impartiality. The government will also conduct an inquiry into the ABC's competitive neutrality -
whether it is using taxpayer funding to undermine commercial players - and to "legislate a requirement for the ABC to be
'fair' and 'balanced'", according to a post on One Nation's Facebook's page on Tuesday.
One Nation's deal came just hours after the Greens have signalled they might be willing to negotiate on media reform in return for greater funding for the public broadcasters.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale told reporters in Canberra that the cross-bench party was willing to potentially drop its opposition to the proposed end of the so-called "two-out-of-three" rule that prevents media companies owning radio, television and print in a single city.
The broadcasting reform bill is on the Senate's agenda for Tuesday and scheduled for debate just before Question Time at 2pm. The bill needs 39 votes in favour to pass. The Coalition has 30 votes in the Senate while One Nation controls four votes. Independents Derryn Hinch and David Leyonhelm have already indicated their support for the media reform bill, which means the government still needs three votes. These could potentially come from the Nick Xenophon Team.
But if the Greens vote with the government in favour of the media reforms it will pass.
"It's fair to say that we are discussing an increase in the funding for ABC and SBS and that is a starting point for any support to get rid of two-out-of-three."
Senator Di Natale said the
Greens were "petrified" the government might do a deal with One Nation on media reform.
"If the government want to secure our support they need to invest more in the ABC and SBS... we need to protect the ABC, particularly their charter, and [ensure it has] the funding to do what they do so well," he said.
The Green's media spokeswoman, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said she had met with industry representatives in recent weeks, but found the attitude from commercial media companies, particularly broadcasters "feels like it is just take, take, take".
"What is on the table currently with the government is a deal with One Nation, who have never hidden their distaste and hatred for the ABC," she said, adding the Green's support for the public broadcasters was "rock solid".
the Greens are losing relevancy more and more... if they dont get it together by next election they'll be obliterated...