Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 22-10-2019
A spokesperson for advocacy group the Australian Lawyers Alliance says the media has expressed concerns by the authoritarianism that is creeping into Australian life.
It is understood that since the 9/11 attacks in the US, Australia has passed a series of anti-terror and national security laws including increasing the powers of security agencies in the country.
This means there is an increase in secrecy on the part of the Australian government and the capacity to prosecute journalists and media organisations.
Australian writer and barrister Greg Barns says the actions by the Australian government is going on for more than twenty years.
Barns says he believes the Australian government wants to hide things from the public.
“I got no doubt about that and also we don’t have a South African style charter of rights in our constitution, so it means that the Australian government can get away with impressing authoritarianism and it can do so by cajoling journalists and media organisations”
Barns says the Australian government needs to change its stance on media liberties.
“Well I think the plan of action is to get the government to understand there needs to be media freedom and freedom of speech and it needs to support those fundamental rights not just in its rhetoric, but in reality.”
Global attention turned to media freedoms in Australia this year when a court order prevented media from reporting that the former Vatican treasurer, Cardinal George Pell, had been found guilty on child sex abuse charges.
Listen to the interview with Greg Barnes
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