Kevin Rudd has launched a petition to parliament calling for a Royal Commission into the media operations of Rupert Murdoch's New Corporation.

Petition Reason
Our democracy depends on diverse sources of reliable, accurate and independent news. But media ownership is becoming more concentrated alongside new business models that encourage deliberately polarising and politically manipulated news. We are especially concerned that Australia’s print media is overwhelmingly controlled by News Corporation, founded by Fox News billionaire Rupert Murdoch, with around two-thirds of daily newspaper readership. This power is routinely used to attack opponents in business and politics by blending editorial opinion with news reporting. Australians who hold contrary views have felt intimidated into silence. These facts chill free speech and undermine public debate. Powerful monopolies are also emerging online, including Facebook and Google. We are deeply concerned by: mass-sackings of news journalists; digital platforms impacting on media diversity and viability; Nine Entertainment's takeover of the Melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald; News Corp’s acquisition (and then closure) of more than 200 smaller newspapers, undermining regional and local news; attempts to replace AAP Newswire with News Corp’s alternative; and relentless attacks on the ABC’s independence and funding. Professional journalists further have legitimate concerns around unjust searches, potential prosecution, whistle-blower protection, official secrecy and dispute resolution that should be comprehensively addressed. Only a Royal Commission would have the powers and independence to investigate threats to media diversity, and recommend policies to ensure optimal diversity across all platforms to help guarantee our nation’s democratic future.

Petition Request
We therefore ask the House to support the establishment of such a Royal Commission to ensure the strength and diversity of Australian news media.

Hi Paul,

I watched the US Election Special on the "Insiders"
last night 8/11/2020. David Speers interviewed
Malcolm Turnbull, Kevin Rudd and Arthur Sinodinos.
The panel was made up of Lenore Taylor, Stan Grant,
and Peter Hartcher. Kevin'Rudd's Royal Commission
into the Murdoch media was discussed.

The petition is now closed and it's collected over half
a million signatures including Malcolm Turnbull's.

Of course we need an inquiry into Murdoch's dominance
in our media. We need media ownership diversity for the
future of our democratic system.

Unfortunately Australia has no threshold of signatures that
requires a petition to be debated in parliament. So as many
commentators indicate a Royal Commission any time soon is
highly unlikely. And without the support of either the
Liberal National Coalition or the Australian Labor Party - the
petition has no political force behind it.

Still it will be presented to parliament - and as Kevin Rudd
has made quite clear - what he wants is to start a national
conversation about the negative impact the Murdoch media
company has in Australia through its total domination
(especially in Queensland) and its overt support for one
side of politics.

It's a start. And one that is long overdue.

When Krudd was getting positive reviews from the Australian he could not suck up to them enough. After he went full feral and they called him out then he wants a royal commission.

What a loser, he makes Trump look balanced.

You need to be desperate for a topic to mention Kevin Rudd, who was a dud Prime Minister and is totally irrelevant since he left the political scene. If he wasn't such a nasty piece of work, he would be pitied. He and that other has been, Keating, must bribe media hacks to mention them.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for raising this topic.

Hopefully others will contribute to the
actual discussion. Media ownership in
Australia should concern us all no matter
what our political persuasions may be.

How ridiculous. Typical of that pompous tosser that is Rudd

For the Left, just get out there and win the debates and stop whinging.

People and organisations can argue what they like, as long as it accords with the law.