Australia

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a MEAA media release: 24 hour strike continues at ABC Radio Current Affairs December 13, 2005 – The Media Alliance and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) support the decision by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio Current Affairs (Caff) employees to strike for 24 hours. Radio Caff employees made […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is an MEAA media release: Journalist charged for talking to a prisoner Australia’s media union has called on the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director General of the state’s Corrective Services Department to drop the charges levelled at highly respected journalist and filmmaker Anne Delaney. Earlier this year Ms. […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is an MEAA media release: Anti-terror legislation threatens freedom of expression The federal government is rushing through anti-terror legislation that threatens freedom of expression, says Australia’s media and entertainment union. “The federal government has created laws that will radically alter the nature of public debate in this country. The laws draw […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 October 2005 CPJ press release: AUSTRALIA: CPJ alarmed by contempt charges against two journalists New York, October 13, 2005 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by contempt of court charges filed against two reporters for the Melbourne-based Herald Sun who refused to divulge the source […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: Australian anti-terror laws threaten press freedom The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the global organisation representing more than 500,000 journalists in over 110 countries, is concerned that anti-terrorism laws proposed by the Australian Federal and State governments may become yet another stumbling block for press freedom […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – Two “Herald Sun” journalists will be formally charged with contempt after refusing to name their source before Chief Judge Michael Rozenes of the Melbourne County Court. MEAA condemns this attack against press freedom. The director of public prosecutions is expected to formally charge “Herald Sun” journalists Michael Harvey and Gerard McManus within 48 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is alarmed that journalists Michael Harvey and Gerard McManus of the Canberra-based daily “Herald Sun” have been summoned to appear as witnesses before a Melbourne court on 23 August 2005, where they will be asked under threat of legal penalty if the defendant is one of their sources. In a 20 February […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 3 May 2005 MEAA media release: Unauthorised Disclosures and Parliamentary Privilege The journalists’ union appeared before the Senate Committee of Privileges today, arguing that journalists’ right to protect their sources be respected. The Senate Committee of Privileges is considering a proposal that may threaten journalists’ right to protect their […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 28 April 2005 MEAA media release: Turning Up The Heat: Australia’s press freedom report 2001-2005 September 11, the Bali bombing, war in Iraq and the ongoing war on terror have all contributed to a dire health report for press freedom and independent media in Australia, according to the Media, […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 24 March 2005 MEAA media release: Australian security laws muzzle media, says journalists’ union The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (the Alliance), the organisation representing over 10,000 journalists Australia-wide, says that the counter-terrorism legislation being reviewed by the Government effectively muzzles the media’s scrutiny of Australia’s top security organisation. […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is an MEAA media release: Alliance Calls for Open and Transparent Process for ABC Board Appointments The Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance is calling on the Government to reform its closed-door approach to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) board appointments in favour of an open and transparent process, following the appointment of […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is an MEAA media release: Alliance Supports Freedom of Information Appeal To Federal Court The Media Alliance supports News Limited’s appeal to the Full Bench of the Federal Court against a decision blocking access to Treasury documents and threatening the democratic right to freedom of information (FOI). It is seeking to […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is an MEAA press release: Police actions obstruct journalists The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance today expressed its concern at police actions using the Summary Offences Act to obstruct journalists reporting a major political story in Australia this week. The incident followed the resignation of Opposition Leader Mark Latham on January […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is an MEAA media release: Using criminal procedure to uncover journalists’ sources is unacceptable, says Media Alliance Australia’s media union condemns today’s police raid on independent newspaper the National Indigenous Times (NIT) to seize leaked departmental and cabinet documents. Just after 8:30 a.m. this morning, five Australian Federal Police raided the […]

(MEAA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 July 2004 MEAA media release: Police officer posing as freelance journalist undermines media integrity, says Media Alliance The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the organisation representing over 10,000 journalists across Australia, today has expressed concern over revelations that an undercover federal agent posed as a freelance journalist in […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned both the intimidation and harassment of Australian freelance journalist John Macgregor by the Elan Vital sect, and a series of rulings by the Queensland Supreme Court in Elan Vital’s favour, which pose a threat to press freedom. The organisation wrote to Press Council Chairman Ken McKinnon and Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, […]