Katter Backs Media Reforms Takes Swipe at Murdoch If that's it, I'm out Independent MP Rob Oakeshott says the government's media reforms lack a long-term strategic plan, and that the cross-bench is unlikely to support them as is. A key crossbencher has provided qualified support for the Gillard government's proposed media law reforms, with Bob Katter saying that he was concerned about "biased" and "irresponsible" reporting. Mr Katter told Fairfax Media on Wednesday that while he would wait to see the legislation before deciding how he would vote, he agreed with Communications Minister Stephen Conroy that "something needed to be done" about an often irresponsible press. The independent MP singled out News Ltd's Australian newspaper for criticism. It has had a constant determination to enforce a free market philosophy. It has never printed the other side," Mr Katter said. If you exercise that power in such an unbalanced manner . . . Newspapers do not necessarily belong to the proprietors, they have a responsibility to society. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy depicted as Joseph Stalin in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph. Mr Katter's comments come as News Limited waged a furious campaign against the media laws, with Sydney's Daily Telegraph photoshopping Senator Conroy's head onto the body of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Senator Conroy dismissed the Stalin reference saying, "I'll let the public decide whether I equate to a mass murderer." The chief executives of Australia's biggest print and online news media, including Fairfax Media, publisher of this website, have come out against the reforms announced by Mr Conroy on Tuesday, saying they were unclear and would introduce uncertainty into the media landscape. Labor would need five of the seven crossbenchers to support the legislation for it to pass parliament. Instead of a single "tsar" overseeing the media, as proposed by Senator Conroy, Mr Katter said he would rather a panel of judges that would include seasoned journalists. "Michelle Grattan and Paul Kelly leap to mind," he said. The government's long-awaited reforms to media laws are in the balance after it deferred a range of promised changes, refused to negotiate on those it did commit to, and gave Parliament just two weeks to pass the legislation. Bad law News Ltd chief executive Kim Williams said the reforms were "nothing more than a political interest test which Governments will use to punish outlets they don't like." "This government will go down in history as the first Australian government outside of wartime to attack freedom of speech by seeking to introduce a regime which effectively institutes government sanctioned journalism," he said. Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood said there was no evidence in the media industry that there was a problem to solve. Fairfax Media is the owner of this website. We can't see the purpose of further regulation of news publications. Exactly what's going to happen is unclear based on today's press release," he said. Crossbench reaction Mr Turnbull's comments rejecting the reforms mean Labor would need five of the seven crossbenchers to support the legislation for it to pass parliament. Craig Thomson told Fairfax Media he had "some issues" with the bill but would not make any further comments until he had the opportunity raise them with the government. Peter Slipper said he was "sympathetic to the desperate need for reform I'm sympathetic to the desperate need for reform in the interest of balanced reporting and diversity of ownership in both print and electronic media including TV." But he was waiting on a detailed briefing of what is proposed in the legislation before he determined his position. Greens communication spokesman Scott Ludlum said the party supported the most controversial aspect of the bill - the public interest test for media owners, but was unhappy with Senator Conroy's "take it or leave it" approach. NSW independent Rob Oakeshott also signalled his opposition unless changes were made, telling Fairfax Media's Breaking Politics on Wednesday that the reform package was "a light touch." The government has squibbed it in many ways. It is a massive missed opportunity for the journalists profession as well. "We've got to have something and something that works if the journalists code of ethics is going to mean something," he said. If Mr Katter, Mr Thomson, Mr Slipper and the Greens side with the government, the future of Australian media law will depend on the vote of NSW independent Tony Windsor. His spokesman said he had not yet decided how he will vote. As the opposition accused Senator Conroy of holding a gun to Parliament's head, the tight deadline for passage of the complex changes has raised suspicions that even the government is not committed to their success. Media standards The package also includes stronger self-regulation of ethical and professional standards by newspapers, and cuts to the licence fees of commercial TV broadcasters. Senator Conroy hesitated on one of the most contentious parts of the reform agenda, his preference for scrapping the so-called "reach rule," which limits the reach of any broadcaster to a maximum of 75 per cent of the market. Strike a balance These reforms will ensure for the Australian public a media sector that is fair, diverse and able to tackle the challenges of the future.