The Queensland Nationals are calling on the Federal Government to mandate local content in local radio in any cross-media mergers.


The urgency resolution was passed at the party’s state conference in Brisbane today.


Proposed Federal Government reforms would allow foreign ownership restrictions to be lifted, paving the way for television, newspaper and radio companies to merge.


Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce has told delegates protection mechanisms need to be in place, particularly for regional media.


“The media is like a human body it’s always under attack from people who are trying to centralise and take away that diversity of views and you’ve always got to be ever vigilant to protect that because protecting the media, protecting the fourth estate protects our democracy.”