HUNTER FEDERAL MPs have thrown their support behind the Right to Know campaign, which calls for stronger protections for media freedom to safeguard public interest journalism.
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News Corp executive Campbell Reid wrote to all federal MPs this week on behalf of a coalition of media organisations - including Newcastle Herald publisher Australian Community Media - saying the government has passed laws "that have made the ordinary work of journalists to keep the public informed a crime".
The letter called for six major changes: the right to contest search warrants; protection for whistleblowers; restrictions on secrecy; freedom of information reform; exemptions for journalists; and defamation law reform.
Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon said she stood "in solidarity" with the movement.
"A strong and independent media is vital to holding governments - and opposition parties - to account," Ms Claydon said.
"The Morrison Government needs to lift its veil of secrecy and enshrine strong protections for media and whistle blowers alike. The Australian people deserve it and our democracy depends on it."
Shortland MP Pat Conroy said the freedom of information process was "vital to the operation of transparent democracy".
"It's an important tool of the opposition and the media to uncover what the government doesn't want the public to know," Mr Conroy said.
"Too many FOI requests are being knocked back by this government and requests are taking too long to process.
"Requests to the Office of the Australian Information Commission have increased 80 per cent in four years, but two of the three commissioner jobs remain vacant.
"That shows the disregard this government has for the free flow of information.
"The government should fully comply with its obligations under Freedom of Information laws, protect whistle blowers, protect journalists doing their job, and rule out prosecutions of Dan Oakes, Sam Clark and Annika Smethurst."
Paterson MP Meryl Swanson wrote in an ACM opinion piece the media plays a "vital role in telling the public what's really going on".
"Over the last few months, the Morrison Government has become more determined than ever to keep certain information secret from the public, ranging from the serious and significant - like abuse and neglect in aged care, and freedom of information requests regarding the sale of agricultural land to foreign buyers - to the mundane, such as attempts to stop a journalist from getting a copy of the dining room menu at Parliament House."
Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon said Labor had sent a letter of support to Mr Reid.
"You can't have a free country without a free media."
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
