1# Oral presentation 2 3**Topic:** Importance of media independence and transparency for democracy 4 5## Context 6 7- <https://theconversation.com/why-the-raids-on-australian-media-present-a-clear-threat-to-democracy-118334> 8- <https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-federal-police-raid-abc-headquarters-at-sydney-s-ultimo-20190605-p51uof.html> 9- <https://washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/06/10/australia-is-war-with-journalists/> 10- <https://www.pm.gov.au/media/doorstop-interview-portsmouth-uk> 11- <https://www.afp.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/afp-statement-search-warrant-sydney> 12 13Journalist Information Warrant - allows access to restrained metadata 14AFP raid on ABC - June 2019 15- - "alleged publishing of information classified as an official secret" 16 17 18## Articles 19 20Ananian-Welsh. _Why the raids on Australian media present a clear threat to democracy_. https://theconversation.com/why-the-raids-on-australian-media-present-a-clear-threat-to-democracy-118334 21 22## Structure 23 24**Introduction** 25Discuss context and recent developments 26 27- ABC raided on 5 June 2019 for "the Afghan files" report 28- Leaked defence documents which revealed corruption, incl. killing of unarmed men and children (murder) 29- Lyons (ABC exec. editor): "we waive no rights, and reserve the right to take injunction against the warrant" 30- Secrecy offences punishable by seven years imprisonment 31- AFP also searched Annikea Smethurt's house (not connected) - personal surveillance report 32- Morrisson "not troubled" by raids, but said "I believe in freedom of the press"???kek 33- Importance & risk of public interest journalism 34 35**1. Importance of source confidentiality/protection** 36- Ethical foundation of journalists 37- Enables individuals to share controversial/sensitive information with journalists without fear of persecution 38- International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights - <https://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/docs/gc34.pdf> 39- Right of access to information: "right of access to informmation held by public bodies ... [including] records held by a public body, regardless of the form" 40- "The right of access to information includes a right whereby the media has access to information on public affairs" 41- "Every individual should have the right to ascertain in an intelligible form ... what personal data is stored in automatic data files, and for what purposes" 42- Limited aid of encrypted messaging and internal protocols 43 44**2. Impact on democracy** 45- AU has more national security laws than any other nation 46- Only liberal democracy without Charter of Human Rights to protect media freedom 47- 48 49**3. Risk of bias** 50- 51 52 53**Conclusion** 54 55- Kevin Rudd calls for royal commission for media power abuse and unethical journalism (e.g. Murdoch) 56- Decline of public interest journalism 57- Sources are less likely to take risks to reveal corruption and misconduct 58- Media Freedom Act - recognise and protect freedom of jouranlists