Australian Press Protest Government Crackdown on Press Freedom
October 28, 2019
On Monday, October 21, major newspapers all across Australia printed their front pages with large black blocks reading, “censored” to protest the Australian government taking action against freedom of the press.
According to Adweek article, “Australian Newspapers Redacted Their Front Pages for Press Freedom”, Australia is the “first world country” with the most national security laws, with 75 laws dictating how information is given to the public passed in the last 20 years. The same article states that only 37% of Australians believe that their government is operating freely and transparently. Australia currently has no constitutional amendment for freedom of speech or freedom of the press. “Australia is at risk of becoming the world’s most secretive democracy,” said David Anderson, the managing director of Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC).
These recent protests are in response to increased governmental crackdowns, especially on investigative journalism and their sources. According to Washington Post’s Article, “Australia’s Leading Newspapers Black Out Front Pages to Protest Governmental Media Restrictions”, in June, the police raided the home of journalist Annika Smethurst and the offices of ABC in order to uncover the names of anonymous sources. In the days following the protests, the Australian government denied a visa to a Cameroonian journalist traveling to speak at a press freedom of expression conference in Brisbane. The Guardian reported that the Berlin-based journalist had previously won the 2019 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award, but the Australian government’s justification for denying her was that she would possibly overstay her visa.
The Australian press is banding together to try and make change within their government. Major Aus. media corporations have formed the, “Right to Know Coalition”, in order to protect whistleblowers, and to expand press freedoms and protections. This initiative organized Monday’s media blackout to draw attention to the country’s policies.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended his government’s laws on Sunday, saying they believed “in the freedom of the press,” but also “in the rule of law and that no one is above it, including me, or anyone else, any journalist or anyone else.”
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