Greens' red line on media reform THE Greens yesterday sounded a potential death knell for the Gillard government's controversial media changes, but the fate of the legislation may still lie in the hands of the four key independent MPs. The Greens said the creation of a powerful Public Interest Media Advocate could cause a "race to the bottom" in press standards. Independent MPs Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott, Andrew Wilkie and Craig Thomson have all expressed concerns about the regulations including the tight time frame given to parliament to examine the bills.Mr Wilkie said the government-appointed advocate risks "political interference and effectively media censorship." The backwards step would save the government from being the first to be defeated on legislation in the house of representatives since 1929. "We said this is a very simple choice, you either want to protect media diversity in this country, you want the Press Council to uphold its own standards, or you don't," Senator Conroy told ABC TV. Greens communications spokesman Senator Scott Ludlam said the fact many press councils could exist was "a real red line for us" - and not the party's only serious concern.Regional papers would be able to set up their own press councils with watered-down standards, he said. While Senator Conroy's combative, take-it-or-leave-it negotiating style "crossed into unreasonable," the Greens were open to amendments, Senator Ludlam said. But even with the Greens, the package looks shaky. Independents say the changes are rushed, and Mr Wilkie yesterday said: "Frankly the concern the reforms will diminish free speech has some merit." Opposition communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull said Senator Conroy's handling of the situation had been "catastrophic" to the point where it seemed the bills were designed to fail. Is he seeking to embarrass the Prime Minister? Mr Turnbull asked on Sky News. The public interest advocate would also oversee the self-regulatory body that handles complaints about the print and online media, but Senator Conroy insisted it would not have the power to act against the press or journalists.