Open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese, Members of the Parliament of Australia JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME
The Australian Federal Police raids on the who work with them are entitled to protection, home of News Corp Australia journalist Annika not prosecution. Truth-telling is being punished. Smethurst and on the offices of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation represent a grave The raids, a raft of recent national security threat to press freedom in Australia. laws, and the prosecutions of whistleblowers Richard Boyle, David McBride and Witness K all We welcome the Prime Minister’s stated demonstrate the public’s right to know is being commitment to freedom of the press and openness harmed. Truth-telling is being punished. to discuss the concerns that have been raised. It is also clear from the global response to the A healthy democracy cannot function without its recent raids that Australia’s proud reputation media being free to bring to light uncomfortable around the world as a free and open society is truths, to scrutinise the powerful and inform our under threat. communities. Investigative journalism cannot We urge Parliament to legislate changes to the survive without the courage of whistleblowers, law to recognise and enshrine a positive public motivated by concern for their fellow citizens, interest protection for whistleblowers and for who seek to bring to light instances of journalists. Without these protections Australians wrongdoing, illegal activities, fraud, corruption will be denied important information it is their and threats to public health and safety. right as citizens to have.
These are issues of public interest, of the public’s We urge you to take prompt action to protect our right to know. Whistleblowers and the journalists democracy for all Australians.
Signed,
Michael Bachelard, David Crowe, Peter Greste, Chris Masters, Laurie Oakes, Tory Shepherd, The Sydney Morning The Sydney Morning Alliance for Journalists’ Investigative Journalist Retired Political The Advertiser Herald/The Age Herald/The Age Freedom Kate McClymont, Journalist Marcus Strom, MEAA Richard Baker, Miranda Devine, Claire Harvey, The Sydney Kerry O’Brien, Sandra Sully, The Age The Daily Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph Morning Herald Chair, The Walkley Ten News Foundation Mark Baker, Malcolm Farr, Tim Lester, Nick McKenzie, Lenore Taylor, Melbourne Press Club news.com.au Seven Network The Age Matt Peacock, Guardian Australia ABC Alumni Barrie Cassidy, ABC Adele Ferguson, Isabel Lo, Karen Middleton, Paige Taylor, Phillip Coorey, The Age/The Sydney Media Diversity The Saturday Paper Mark Riley, The Australian Morning Herald Australia Seven News The Australian Financial Katharine Murphy, Hedley Thomas, Review Marina Go, John Lyons, ABC Guardian Australia Leigh Sales, ABC The Australian Director, The Walkley Annabel Crabb, ABC David Marr, Paul Murphy, MEAA Niki Savva, Laura Tingle, ABC Foundation Guardian Australia The Australian Michelle Grattan, Lisa Wilkinson, The Conversation The Project
Take action by emailing the PM and your local MP at journalismisnotacrime.org