Senator CONROY (Victoria—Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity) (14:16): I thank Senator Abetz for his question. The media industry is facing significant challenges as a result of technological change. The impact of new communications technologies is eroding the business models of traditional print media organisations, threatening their ability to continue investing the necessary resources to support news gathering and the production of quality journalism. This is a worldwide phenomenon. A healthy and robust media is essential to the democratic process. In response to these changes, the government yesterday announced an independent media inquiry. The inquiry will focus on print media regulation, including online publications and the operation of the Press Council. The inquiry will also examine the effectiveness of print media related codes of practice, particularly in light of technological change that is leading to the migration of print media to digital and online platforms. The inquiry will be conducted by former Federal Court judge Ray Finkelstein QC, who will be assisted— Senator Abetz: Mr President, a point of order in relation to relevance: sessional orders require the minister to be directly relevant. My question was very specific: whether or not the terms of reference permit the inquiry to look at the concentration of newspaper ownership. The PRESIDENT: I draw the minister's attention to the question. The minister has 42 seconds remaining. Senator CONROY: The convergence review, a separate review that we commenced almost 12 months ago, is looking at the questions around media concentration. In fact, I understand they will be releasing a paper next week on that particular matter—the structure of the media. In the terms of reference that we have put forward we talk about diversity, but I have made it absolutely clear on a number of occasions that this is an inquiry that is not targeted at and is not about the level of media ownership. I do not need an inquiry to know that Rupert Murdoch owns 70 per cent of newspapers in this country. (Time expired)