The new Media Bill went to the Senate for its second reading this week, but a vote on the bill was delayed to allow more time for Communications Minister Senator Alston to negotiate with the four independents whose votes are needed to pass the bill.

Senator Alston’s office told radioinfo: “The Minister met with the independent Senators yesterday afternoon for an
exploratory meeting to determine their areas of interest on the Bill.

While
some progress was made, it was decided that there was insufficient time to
consider the issue in the current parliamentary session (which finishes
tonight), so we hope to resume consideration of the Bill in the next session
(which begins on 13 May, but the Bill is more likely to be considered in
late June).

Negotiations with the independent Senators will continue over
the course of the next five to six weeks.”