The Federal Government's plan for a public interest media advocate to oversee media mergers and press standards is on the brink of collapse after independent MP Andrew Wilkie ruled out backing Labor legislation.

"These reforms are rushed and poorly constructed," the MP said in a statement.

"Frankly this is a shambles of the government's own making and no reasonable person could expect quality decisions to be made in these circumstances."

The government needs the support of at least four crossbenchers to have its four remaining media bills clear the lower house.

So far, only Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent Peter Slipper have indicated they will support the government.

A third crossbencher, Tony Windsor, is expected to also back Labor.

But the government has failed to win the support of Mr Wilkie, Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter and Craig Thomson whose opposition will be neutralised by the coalition's determination not to accept the suspended Labor MP's vote.

Mr Wilkie rejected the Greens' criticism that he was not engaged in negotiations, saying he had met with the prime minister on Tuesday, and Treasurer Wayne Swan and Leader of the House Anthony Albanese on Wednesday.

"I've been open-minded," he told reporters in Canberra.

"They did come back to me with some interesting suggestions to address some of my concerns, but one of my concerns which they have refused to address is these reforms need to be supported by effective public interest disclosure legislation."

He said the government had provided briefings on its proposals over a "period of months" but had only released the draft legislation last week, giving little time to properly scrutinise it.

He would consider alternative media reforms if the government brought them forward.

"I would look at it afresh," he said.

He had approached the legislation on its merits, and not in the context of the Labor leadership.

"When I approach it on its merits I come to the conclusion the four bills are not worth supporting. If it has knock-on effects, that's for those people to deal with," he said.