Regional australia institute, Public university in Adelaide, Australia

Public broadcaster ABC's Managing Director David Anderson, News Corp's Executive Chairman Michael Miller and Channel 9 Chief Executive Hugh Marks gave a press conference at the National Press Club in which they denounced the culture of secrecy that, they said, currently prevailed in Australia."We believe in being tough on terrorism and strong on border security; however, that does not mean we have to accept laws that make journalism an offence," Miller said."The balance in the national security debate is now too weighted towards secrecy and away from the public's right to know," Marks was quoted as saying by Efe news.Anderson, meanwhile, said that "press freedom is a proxy for public freedom"."We all want to be reassured that our parents and grandparents are being cared for appropriately. That our banks are not ripping us off. That our elected officials are acting in our best interests," the head of ABC added.The joint media appearance came after two controversial police raids targeted two of the organizations earlier in the month.The first was a search of the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst, who had reported on the government's plans to give intelligence agencies more powers to spy on Austral.The second raid took place a day later at the ABC's headquarters on the heels of the network's so-called "Afghan Files" investigation into alleged abuses committed by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.The ABC promptly filed a lawsuit contesting the search warrant.Miller called the raids "intimidation, not investigation", claiming they were intended to intimidate journalists and their sources into silence.Since 2014, Australia has passed a series of laws that seek to persecute the spread of information linked to state interests, establishing new espionage crimes and allowing the government access to citizens' metadata.( With inputs from IANS )

Regional Australia InstituteFOLLOW

Regional australia institute, Latest News

Another high-octane clash in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 is on cards as two top contenders for the coveted trophy - New Zealand and Australia - are set to square-off at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground here on Saturday. ...

After Australia confirmed their semi-final spot, coach Justin Langer wants pace duo Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to play in every match. ...

Australia batsman David Warner has finally opened up over crowd jeering him in the stadiums during World Cup matches saying that fans pay their 'dollars' and have every right to boo them. ...

India skipper Virat Kohli added another feather to his cap as he became the fastest batsman to score 20,000 international runs when he reached 37 against the West Indies during their World Cup tie at the Old Trafford on Thursday. He also registered 9 ...

Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. Such is the eternal universality of Shakespeare's insights that Malvolio's musings in Twelfth Night could easily apply to the Australian captaincy instead. ...

After England lost both of their recent two matches in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, batsman Joe Root said that his side failed to adapt and even admitted that there were some things which they could have done better. ...

Australia assistant coach Ricky Ponting revealed his side's game plan as he said that they are analysing their opponents deeply and picking their players accordingly. ...

The heads of three major Australian media organizations on Wednesday urged the government not to criminalize journalism in the name of national security during a rare joint appearance following two police raids linked to the publication of certain ne ...