Rupert Murdoch's slick deal with Sydney Council

"Defending Community MediaFree speech, democratic rights and media diversity are under threat from Sydney City Council's decision to allow Rupert Murdoch's MX newspaper to be handed out from city streets - for $362,000 a year.

"On August 1, the Sydney City Council - with no pubic consultation or debate whatsoever - voted to allow a council sub-committee to consider a Development Application (DA) which would grant Rupert Murdoch's News Limited a permit to distribute MX, a free tabloid daily, from city streets. Caving in to powerful corporate interests, all but three councillors voted in favour of the deal.

"In a worrying sign that Sydney City Council may try to use the News Limited deal to clamp down on the street distribution of other publications, Council also resolved - on the same night to develop 'a draft policy to guide footpath distribution of newspapers, other printed material and other commercial activities on footpaths.'

"This is clearly intended to further regulate, and potentially restrict, the use of city streets for the distribution of printed material by the public. Publications that could be restricted include Green Left Weekly, The Hub, Socialist Worker, the Big Issue and Sydney Star Observer."

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