From June 29, nearly 100 regional newspapers, owned by US citizen and multi-billionaire Rupert Murdoch, will cease print operations.

Activists have taken the fight to the front gates of the News Corp printing press in Murarrie, Queensland last night demanding that ‘News Corp tell the truth about the climate and ecological crisis,’ said a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion (XR).

Australians are worried the government is becoming less transparent on key public issues including the misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration and climate change. Locally, the Byron Shire Council and the Byron Hospital has similar examples of blocking public access to information.

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission has declined to intervene in the sale of the ARN newspaper titles on the grounds that a News Corp takeover would not ‘substantially lessen competition’ in the regional media market.

News Corporation has just dramatically increased its political-influence footprint in Australia, but it’s a story that hasn’t made it much past the business pages. It should.

Back in the bad old days before the internet took hold, Australia’s two most powerful families, the Murdochs and the Packers, would often selfishly carve up the political and media landscape for their own benefit.