Senator Barnaby Joyce has reserved the right to vote against the media laws package.
Last Update: Monday, October 9, 2006. 5:00am (AEST)

Media laws to dominate Senate discussion

The Senate is expected to devote much of this week to debating the future of the nation's media ownership laws.

There are four Bills before the Senate that would allow big changes to the media landscape.

However they will not go through without amendments, with a Senate committee already saying there should be protection in regional markets so one owner could not control a newspaper, radio and television station.

The Nationals, including Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce, are looking for even more amendments.

"How we can protect regional Australia and also make sure that we protect democracy by avoiding an over-centralisation of the media," he said.

Senator Joyce has reserved his right to vote against the package.

He says he is looking forward to seeing the amendments Communications Minister Senator Helen Coonan puts forward.

Senator Coonan is still considering her response to those recommendations.