A majority of voters across every demographic disapprove of changing media ownership laws to allow a single company to control a newspaper, TV network and radio network in the same area, according to Essential.

The mooted reform is one of several media companies have been lobbying the government to implement to bring Australia’s media diversity requirements into the 21st century. The argument goes that online outlets are not bound by any such restrictions — requiring more of local media proprietors makes them less able to compete.

But the proposal appears unpopular with voters, with 61% disapproving, according to today’s Essential poll. A third of voters — 33% — say they “strongly disapprove” of the proposal, and 28% say they “disapprove. Only 4% say they strongly approve — even among Liberal/National voters, the figure is only 5% in strong support.

A large portion of those polled — 22% — said they didn’t know how they felt about the reforms.

Would you approve or disapprove of changing the media laws to allow a single company to own all three of a newspaper, TV network and radio station in a single market?

Australians disapprove of media ownership law changes

At the start of this month, the government tabled a media reform bill in Parliament. It is uncertain whether it will get Labor or crossbench support. — Myriam Robin