A five-minute video interview underpins CNN Business's report on Kevin Rudd's petition calling for an inquiry into the dominance of Rupert Murdoch's media empire.

More than 500,000 Australians signed the petition to the Australian parliament before it closed on Wednesday night.

In an interview with CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter in May, Rudd likened News to the mafia, saying he had first-hand experience of the influence exerted by Murdoch's News Corp Australia "routinely used to attack opponents in business and politics by blending editorial opinion with news reporting".

CNN Hong Kong's Sherisse Pham said News Corp Australia "did not immediately respond to a request for comment".

As she writes, while the petition will likely be presented to Australia's House of Representatives, lawmakers are not obligated to act on it.