2023-03-21
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications, has welcomed the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull and Sharan Burrow as co-chairs of Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission.
Senator Hanson-Young will today give notice in the Senate of the introduction of a Greens bill to establish a Royal Commission into the Murdoch Media empire and the control and influence they have over Australian democracy.
"The Murdoch media mafia has had a stranglehold on our democracy for too long. This is now the second former Prime Minister who has told us of how his government was afraid to act because of the backlash they would receive from the Murdoch media,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
"No one in politics is safe from the wrath of the Murdoch machine, that's why this must be a multiparty effort to stand up for truth and decency in our democracy.
"Only an inquiry with the powers of a Royal Commission can get to the bottom of the issues in the Murdoch empire and media concentration in Australia. In the last few weeks, we have seen the power of legal proceedings in the US to help bring the truth about the culture and values of Fox News to light.
"Today I will give notice of a bill to set up the Murdoch inquiry. I call on colleagues from all sides of politics to join us in supporting this bill and standing up for Australian democracy. It's time that the leaders of our country stopped being afraid of Rupert Murdoch.
“We also need to overhaul the regulatory framework. Media regulators in this country are toothless and powerless to act in the public interest under the huge political and market influence of the Murdoch machine. Media regulations must be fit for purpose and deliver trustworthy journalism that is in the public interest.”