Tighter controls on the media were yesterday called for by an Opposition Senator.

And Government Senate Leader Maxwell Burgess challenged the Government side to stop whining about the press -- and do something about it.

He hit out after Senator and Cabinet Office chief of staff David Burch got stuck into the Press, referring to "a propaganda sheet'' and a "rag.'' And he accused The Royal Gazette of not doing its research properly over his appointment as Chief of Staff because the mechanisms for extra jobs at Cabinet Office had been set up under a UBP Government.

And he said he was "a volunteer'' chief of staff, so claims he had added to the public payroll were wrong.

Sen. Burgess said: "If the Government is concerned about any rag sheet, they can do something about it.

"If any citizen is the victim of a rag sheet, then they should get on with it.'' And he said if Government's failed in their duty it was "irresponsible, incompetent governance''.

Sen. Burgess added that a Media Council "which spoke to some sense of fair reporting'' could be set up.

He said: "We could have a Media Council with some authority to ensure that fair and accurate reporting takes place.'' But Sen. Calvin Smith said freedom of the press was part of the democratic process -- and Sen. Burgess should know better.

He added: "He must know that a key of every democratic process is the media.

The last thing we would look to see is increased control.'' Sen. Smith said: "If there is going to be increased control, that would have to come through increased competition.'' He was backed by Independent Sen. Walwyn Hughes who said he was "discouraged'' by harsh criticism of the Press made during the motion to adjourn.

Sen. Hughes said: "We might have our disagreements and views on the media.

"But the last thing we need is to have our troubles and concerns addressed by the Government.'' He added: "More competition, or whatever, may be a way of getting other views.

"Looking for Government to assume control or dictate what we see is wrong with the media would be a very difficult situation, in our view.'' Sen. Burch -- who accused the media of being "mischievous or lazy'' -- fell short of explaining why he has been unpaid.

The Royal Gazette reported shortly after he was given the job last November that the post was provided for in legislation dating back to the 1980s -- under a UBP Government led by Sir John Swan.

The reports did predict new appointments would add thousands of dollars a year to the public payroll -- although they did not say when.

Sen. Burch omitted to tell Senators that, although he has been working for free since the PLP won power, he could not be paid until his salary had been approved as part of the Budget process.

And -- from April 1, subject to the Budget passing, which is a certainty -- he will be paid $55,000 a year, as well as his near-$21,000 as a Senator.

Ms Smith's aide when she was Opposition leader, also an addition to the Cabinet Office staff, will be paid around $50,000.