Australia’s new media law irks News Corp

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and other media groups will face a public interest test before being allowed to make any major media acquisition in Australia, under new rules proposed by the country’s ruling Labor government.

Australia’s communications minister Stephen Conroy said the new media ownership rule would ensure a “diversity of voices” was always considered when media companies of “national significance” seek to merge. The proposed test is part of a long-awaited media reform package, which also includes a toughened system of self-regulation for print and online media and new rules on local content. The changes are the result of two investigations into the Australian media industry – the Convergence Review and the Finkelstein inquiry, which were launched after the UK hacking scandal that eventually forced the closure of the News of the World newspaper.