New laws on Australian media ownership pass hurdle

CANBERRA - Australia's ruling coalition Government has cleared new laws relaxing media ownership rules, paving the way for their introduction to Parliament, a spokesman for the ruling parties said yesterday.

The laws' passage through Parliament may still meet with some opposition: "One or two members reserved the right to cross the floor," said the spokesman.

The Government wants to relax 20-year old restrictions to allow foreign companies to buy a bigger share of Australia's media and allow firms to own newspapers, television and radio stations in the same city.

But the changes have prompted concerns within the rural-based National Party, which wanted guarantees that the laws, pushed by the Liberal Party, would not lead to cuts in country news services.

The coalition has a one-seat majority in the upper house Senate, making the support of all ruling lawmakers crucial.

- REUTERS