Media regulation
Q. Newspapers and magazines are regulated by the Australian Press Council which was established by the media industry and comprises representatives of media organisations and as well as independent members. It deals with complaints and decides what penalties should be given to journalists and media that break agreed codes of conduct.
Do you think newspapers and magazines should continue to be regulated by the media industry’s Press Council or should the Federal Government appoint a new independent organisation to deal with complaints?
Total |
Vote Labor |
Vote Lib/Nat |
Vote Greens |
|
Press Council should continue to deal with complaints |
44% |
40% |
54% |
38% |
Should be a new Government-appointed organisation to deal with complaints |
28% |
36% |
25% |
40% |
Don’t know |
28% |
25% |
21% |
22% |
44% think that newspapers and magazines should continue to be regulated by the media industry’s Press Council and 28% think the Federal Government should appoint a new independent organisation to deal with complaints.
Highest support for a new Government-appointed organisation came from men (36%), Labor voters (36%) and Greens voters (40%).
Regulation of Newspapers
Q. Newspapers and magazines are regulated by the Australian Press Council which was established by the media industry and comprises representatives of media organisations and as well as independent members.
From what you read, do you think that the Press Council is doing a good or poor job of regulating newspapers in Australia?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | |
Total good | 20% | 22% | 25% | 14% |
Total poor | 25% | 26% | 22% | 37% |
Very good job | 1% | 3% | 1% | – |
Good job | 19% | 19% | 24% | 14% |
Neither good nor poor | 38% | 38% | 40% | 31% |
Poor job | 17% | 15% | 16% | 24% |
Very poor job | 8% | 11% | 6% | 13% |
Don’t know | 17% | 14% | 13% | 18% |
20% believed that the Press Council is doing a good job of regulating newspapers and 25% thought it is doing a poor job. 38% say they are doing neither a good nor poor job and 17% don’t know.
Those most likely to think they are doing a good job were aged under 35 (25%) and Liberal/National voters (25%). Those most likely to think they are doing a poor job were aged 55+ (35%) and Greens voters (37%).

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