Overhauling protections for journalists to enhance press freedom is lengthy overdue, in accordance with the attorney-general.
Mark Dreyfus informed a roundtable with media executives and union officers in Canberra on Monday the protection of reporters from prosecution wanted to be ensured following extremely publicized raids by federal police.
“All of us have been shocked by the 2019 search warrants in opposition to the ABC and (journalist) Annika Smethurst,” he informed the roundtable.
“Journalists ought to by no means face the prospect of being charged only for doing their job and there is settlement throughout parliament and the group that improved protections are overdue.”
The media roundtable addressed whether or not secrecy offenses have been gagging public curiosity journalism.
Mr Dreyfus flagged particular whistleblower and press freedom reforms this 12 months after the Nationwide Anti-Corruption Fee laws handed late final 12 months.
“Right this moment’s discussions with individuals on the frontline of this debate, the journalists and individuals who characterize, defend and publish them, is an important first step in the direction of making certain we get these items proper,” he mentioned.
“I am trying ahead to a full and frank dialogue about press freedom points in Australia and additional choices for reform as a result of a powerful and unbiased media issues.”
The Media, Leisure and Arts Alliance has welcomed the talks, describing them as an vital first step in the direction of substantive reforms.
“There’s a lengthy buying record of modifications which can be wanted to guard the essential position of journalism in our democracy,” MEAA federal media president Karen Percy mentioned in an announcement.
“The regular creep of nationwide safety legal guidelines into so many aspects of journalists’ work is a harmful risk to press freedom, as is the dearth of transparency round journalist info warrants.”
The MEAA can also be calling for elevated protections for sources and whistleblowers.
“Whistleblowers who play such an vital position in working with journalists to reveal abuses of energy and corruption must be entitled to protections,” Ms Percy mentioned.
In the meantime, the federal government has introduced the primary initiative from its $four million Information Media Help Program (Information MAP).
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland mentioned the Public Curiosity Journalism Initiative, an unbiased non-profit firm, would obtain $900,000 to gather, analyze and visually map Australian public curiosity information and journalism information.
