THE HON SHADOW MINISTER MP
SENATOR THE HON. KRISTINA KENEALLY
DEPUTY LABOR LEADER IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP
SENATOR FOR NEW SOUTH WALES
 
THE PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO KNOW UNDER ATTACK
 
If journalism is not a crime in Australia, why is the Morrison Government treating journalists like criminal suspects?
 
Reports today confirm that ABC journalists are being investigated as suspects by the Australian Federal Police – including requests for fingerprints and palm prints.
 
The Australian Federal Police have also carried out a raid on a News Corp journalist’s personal home, raided the Sydney offices of the ABC, and forced Qantas to hand over the private travel arrangements of an ABC journalist.
 
It has also been confirmed there were planned raids on the headquarters of News Corp, which were subsequently cancelled.
 
These actions directly contradict statements from the Morrison Government, including from the Prime Minister.
 
On 2 July, Mr Morrison said, “The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring press freedoms are preserved as a key part of our democracy.”
 
On 10 July, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said, “It is our job as a government to be responsive to concerns raised in circumstances like this.”
 
Yet at every given turn, the Morrison Government – and its Ministers – has failed to demonstrate the leadership Australians expect and stand up for the public’s right to know and freedom of the press.
 
There are three serious questions the Government must answer.
 
1. On 19 June, Attorney-General Christian Porter said, ""There is absolutely no suggestion that any journalist is the subject of the present investigations.""
 
Will the Attorney-General confirm that no journalists are the subject of these investigations?
 
2. On the same day, Attorney-General Christian Porter added, “I can say I would be seriously disinclined to approve prosecutions except in the most exceptional circumstances.""
 
Will the Attorney-General confirm he will not prosecute any Australian journalist given the chilling effect this would have on press freedoms in Australia?
 
3. On 12 July, Home Affairs Minister Dutton said, “If you’ve got top secret documents that have been leaked, it is an offence under the law. The police have an obligation to investigate a matter that was referred to them.”
 
By Mr Dutton’s own standard, will the Home Affairs Minister be asking the AFP to re-open their investigation into the leak of classified ASIO advice during the Medevac debate in February which the head of ASIO described as “highly damaging”?
 
Freedom of the press is fundamental to Australia – it is at the core of our democratic society – and Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Government owe the Australian community answers to these questions.