Your Right to Know - Media led protest in Australia against government interference and secrecy.
There is a fairly important protest occurring today in Australia, and I wanted to highlight it and look at what is going on. Free speech is under attack in Australia, and news organisations from around the country have initiated a protest against government actions, and a call for journalistic protection. Mainstream media in Australia is being silenced - and it is interesting to see normally highly competitive media organisations united against the government. Here is a selection of articles from a variety of sources.
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News Corporations's article with a short intro video
The straw that broke the camel’s back were the raids on News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst (who now faces possible criminal charges, ironically because she reported the government was considering new powers to spy on all of us) and an unrelated raid on the ABC headquarters after a report detailing incidents of Australian special forces troops killing men and children in Afghanistan.
The normally pro-government, right leaning News Corp is front and center in this protest, and their Executive Chairman had this to say:
It’s serious for all Australians, not just for media, but it’s our job to actually serve our communities,” News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said.
The Sydney Morning Herald article - "A Culture of Secrecy"
This is an in-depth look at the issue, and covers a number of instances where investigative journalism has been impacted and whistle-blowers severely dealt with. Tellingly, it looks at how Australia compares with similar nations:
Australia’s protections for press freedom are weaker than other Western democracies. The United States constitution enshrines free speech and a free press. In Britain, human rights legislation explicitly protects freedom of expression. Both countries also have stronger protections for journalists facing defamation actions. Australia has no strong legal protections for journalism and free expression, making it unique among comparable countries. The defences available in defamation law are also considered to be weak and complex, with Australia attracting a reputation as the defamation capital of the world.
The SMH is part of Fairfax media, traditionally an independent, center-left organisation with a fierce rivalry with News Corp. It recently was acquired by Nine Media, owners of the Channel Nine free-to-air TV network.
ABC article
In this article, the ABC is reporting the protest. It isn't an editorial piece, but it does note that the ABC is part of the coalition initiating this action:
The Right To Know coalition, of which the ABC is a member, is behind the campaign, calling for the decriminalisation of public interest journalism, and greater protection for the media and whistle-blowers.
The ABC is the Government owned Public Broadcaster, and has traditionally been accused of Left-wing bias and favouring Australia's Labor Party over the Conservatives (the current government).
My thoughts:
Freedom of the press is a fundamental necessity for democracy. We need checks and balances on government's, regardless of their nature. You know that there is a problem when even the mainstream media is protesting and claiming the government is being too secretive.
What are they trying to hide? Why are whistle-blowers being persecuted and treated like criminals. The police state is seeming to increase its tentacles (under the disguise of "National Security") and our freedom and liberties are under threat.
What "The Right to Know" coalition wants:
- Rights to contest applications for search warrants issued on Journalists and Media outlets.
- Improved "Whistleblower" protections.
- A new system for limiting the amount of documents that can be marked "Secret"
- Improvements to "Freedom of Information" laws.
- Exemptions for Journalists from recent "National Security" laws.
- Reforms to Defamation laws.
Source: CBAA Media release
Australia's freedom of speech and freedom of the press is something core to our way of life, and I am pleased to see these mainstream media organisations joining the fight to protect our liberties.
For the Record, the Australian Prime Minister has been quoted as follows:
"My government will always believe in the freedom of the press – it’s an important part of our freedoms as a liberal democracy," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday.
"I also believe in the rule of law and that no-one is above it, including me or anyone else, any journalist.
"The rule of law has to be applied evenly and fairly in protection of our broader freedoms, and so I don’t think anyone's, I would hope, looking for a leave pass on those things."
So, Australia's media must follow the rule of law, but if they try to investigate whether the Government, and government agencies are doing so also, they will do anything to prevent such investigations.
Free Speach and Freedom of the Press is under attack in Australia. It it important to stay informed to avoid waking up one day in a Police State.
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This post has received a 3.13 % upvote from @drotto thanks to: @sbi-booster.
Glad they are united in standing up to the Gov. I did see the front page of news papers in Tas this morning had full front page add from the Right to Know group.
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Interesting to see otherwise fierce rivals united in this. Shows how bad things are getting.
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Yes we are losing so much freedom and have been for a very long time in this country.
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It's interesting that many Australians think we live in a free, democratic society. What a load of hogwash.
No, hasn't been a free democracy for a while. Lots happening at the moment reducing our freedoms even further.
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The thing is it's also obvious and it makes me feel totally incredulous but no one can see it. The people that are given a voice do their best to create more divisions in society shut down those speaking up against Injustice and human rights. And then there are things like drugs testing for welfare recipients and the whole demonising of Extinction Rebellion. We only live in a Illusion of a free Society and we always have been far worse than many countries in this regard I hate all that lucky country bulshit as it just totally sweeps under the carpet everything that is backwards Australia. I am having such a grumpy Monday
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The illusion of freedom is often worse than a blatant police state. People who think they are free get complacent. The country I grew up in is gone.
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I think would people see it as a trade off we live in a relatively safe Society with a reasonably good economy so what is there to complain about. I think it is absolutely terrifying as we head into the future with an increased surveillance over our every move. But hey I could sit here and complain all afternoon but I'm going to the beach and try not to learn about the fact there is overdevelopment in the beautiful close to town I grew up in and they have ruined that as well
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I've got mixed feelings about the issue. On one hand I believe that a free media is essential, the media cabal that's jumping up and down now because they are personally affected has been happy to package propaganda and non issues for decades as news while the country has been sold off.
Where were they when Whitlam got us into the LIMA declaration or when Hawke wiped his arse with our constitution and installed his own bogus one? Why don't we hear much about glass steagal, the cash ban and impending fascist state (with a massive planned asset/land grab that's planned) those things are ushering in. Instead we hear crap about emotionally charged non issues like abortions and sanitised (often completely fake) depictions of Australian and world events. If the "journalists" were worth half of their salt they should have been informing the public of the changes that have been implemented that allowed this to happen.
As far as I'm concerned anyone working for the MSM is just peddling propaganda for the most part. Real journalism died years ago. They are whinging now because it directly affects them but if they'd given us real news over last 3 decades and not hidden the real issues maybe they wouldn't be in situation now.
Yeah there has been plenty go on selling us out that has been miss-reported or ignored completely. Point taken on that area.
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Between this, the anti-encryption laws and the trainwreck that is the NBN I have some serious concerns for this country!
Upvoted by @aagabriel for having similarities to the #informationwar tag, posts like this anyone can add the tag #informationwar so we can more easily find and upvote them! (by @aagabriel)
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