John Murphy (Lowe, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I am not afraid of that, because what I am speaking about, as the member for Fisher knows only too well, is an issue that goes to the heart of the public interest and our democracy. It is appalling to concentrate media ownership. Who is running this country—James Packer and Rupert Murdoch? You are allowing it and you should be fighting against it. With great respect, you should be fighting this, and I would hope that the Deputy Speaker goes back to his party room and supports Mr Neville and Senator Joyce in outlawing the government’s proposed agenda, which is going to be a vicious assault on our democracy. It is going to slaughter the public interest. We might as well shut down this place and not have federal elections because, ultimately, they can be determined by Mr Packer’s or Mr Murdoch’s support at a federal election. This is outrageous. It has got to stop. Mr Deputy Speaker, I ask you to get Senator Coonan to answer my question on today’s Notice Paper. (Time expired)

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