- Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s petition calling for an inquiry into the Murdoch media empire has reached over half a million signatures
- It’s also garnered the support of another ex-leader, with Malcolm Turnbull adding his name to the list
- Specifically, signees are pushing for the current Australian Government to implement a Royal Commission into News Corp (NWS)
- The petition on the Australian Parliament website has now closed, after gathering 501,876 signatures
- Rudd said that’s the biggest number of signatures ever recorded on a Parliamentary petition
- But, without the backing of the Labor or Liberal-National Party’s the petition is unlikely to result in a Royal Commission being called
An inquiry into Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp (NWS) business is one step closer to reality after a petition on the issue reached over half a million signatures.
Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd launched the petition last month, calling for a Royal Commission to be established examining Murdoch’s media empire.
Amongst those signing on to the petition is another former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull.
Both Turnbull and Rudd have been highly critical of Murdoch in the past, accusing him of trying to influence elections.
“The way in which Murdoch uses his media nowadays is basically just as political propaganda,” Malcolm told the ABC.
“News Corp is — for all intents and purposes — like a political party. You know, it protects its friends, it pushes its own barrow,” he added.
While Rudd argues News Corp is using its dominant position in the media industry “to attack opponents in business and politics by blending editorial opinion with news reporting.”
“Our democracy depends on diverse sources of reliable, accurate and independent news,” Kevin’s petition states.
“But media ownership is becoming more concentrated alongside new business models that encourage deliberately polarising and politically manipulated news,” it added.
Rudd’s petition on the Australian Parliamentary website officially closed last night, after racking up 501,876 signatures.
@mrkrudd Just over 48 hours to go before the Parliament closes off our petition for a ##MurdochRoyalCommission sign link in bio
♬ original sound – Kevin Rudd
The former Labor Leader said that’s the biggest number of signatures ever recorded on a Parliamentary petition.
Despite the popularity though, there’s no guarantee a Royal Commission into News Corp will ever be called.
Instead, Rudd and Turnbull will have to work to convince their respective former parties — the Labor Party and the Liberal-Nationals — to take up the cause.
Without either major party’s support, the petition won’t reach its overarching goal of having a Royal Commission established.