Turnbull urges 'sign on for #MurdochRoyalCommission'

Oct 26, 2020 at 09:40 pm by Staff


Liberal former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says he has signed the Rudd petition calling for a royal commission into Rupert Murdoch's media influence.

A petition launched by Turnbull's Labour predecessor Kevin Rudd (2007-2013) on the Australian parliament website is being promoted under the #MurdochRoyalCommission hashtag but raises a number of other issues including Nine's acquisition of Fairfax, and journalists' concerns about "unjust searches, potential prosecution, whistle-blower protection, official secrecy and dispute resolution".

It criticises "News' acquisition (and then closure) of more than 200 smaller newspapers, 'undermining regional and local news', and attempts to replace AAP Newswire with its own alternative".

Turnbull Tweeted that he had signed the petition, saying Kevin Rudd had "done well" to get it going.

"I doubt it will result in a Royal Commission and Murdoch's print monopoly (since 1987) is only part of the problem. But I have signed it and encourage others to do so," he said.

Turnbull was prime minister from 2015 to 2018.

As at Tuesday midday (October 20) the petition had been signed by 394 139 people. Closing date is November 4.

Sections: Newsmedia industry

Comments

or Register to post a comment




ADVERTISEMENTS


ADVERTISEMENTS