NBN raids an “attack on press freedom”, says media union

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news Australia’s peak media union has described last night’s Australian Federal Police raids as an “attack on press freedom”, stating that the action by the NBN company and law enforcement represented a “disturbing new twist in pursuit of whistleblowers and legitimate public interest journalism”.

Late last night AFP officers raided the Melbourne office of former Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, and the house of at least one Labor staffer working for Shadow Communications Minister Jason Clare, in an apparent attempt to ascertain the identity of whistleblowers who have leaked a series of key documents from within the NBN company.

The extraordinary move was confirmed by AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin this morning, after it was revealed by Labor last night.

Delimiter and a number of other media outlets have also been reportedly named as part of the search warrant issued last night, although the AFP has not been in contact with Delimiter regarding the issue.

Although the AFP has denied any political influence on the investigation, opposition Leader Bill Shorten subsequently blasted Malcolm Turnbull for what he said was the Prime Minister’s attempts to stop the public from knowing the “truth” about the National Broadband Network, which the Opposition Leader said had become a “national disgrace” under Turnbull’s watch.

In its own statement, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, which represents Australian journalists, said the raids showed how press freedom in Australia was “under attack” and ultimately needed to be an election issue.

murphy

MEAA chief executive Paul Murphy (pictured) said the raids of the offices and home of a Labor staffer in Melbourne were “a disturbing new twist in pursuit of whistleblowers and legitimate public interest journalism”.

“The raids are a heavy-handed and over-the-top response to media stories which have embarrassed the government,” Murphy said. “Once again, the government wants to shoot the messenger rather than address the issues raised by journalists in their reporting.

“AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin is correct that the AFP has acted lawfully, but we contend there is something wrong with the law when police search warrants can be used to pursue legitimate whistleblowers.”

Murphy said both major sides of political had voted to bring in invasive legislation which had “complete disregard for the public interest” and targeted whistleblowers and journalists. It appears Murphy was referring to last year’s Data Retention legislation.

“As Edward Snowden recently commented, specifically about the situation in Australia, ‘Sometimes the scandal is what the law allows’,” Murphy said.

Murphy said the AFP also needed to be open about whether journalists’ metadata has been accessed without their knowledge. AFP Commission Andrew Colvin this morning refused to comment on the issue.

“The access of journalists’ phone and internet records potentially puts them inadvertently in breach of the journalists’ code of ethics and the obligation to protect confidential sources,” Murphy said.

“The answers given by Commissioner Colvin to these questions today were completely unsatisfactory. We were told that it was necessary to pass the metadata retention laws for national security purposes, but I am sure most Australians would be appalled to learn that the metadata laws are being used in this way.”

Murphy said the current election campaign highlighted the role of journalism in exposing the policies and actions of all political parties to public scrutiny so people can make an informed decision at the ballot box.

“Australia was once a bastion of press freedom and freedom of expression but now governments are pursuing journalists and their sources, criminalising legitimate journalism in the public interest and denying the public’s right to know with pressure mounting to further deny information from becoming public,” Murphy said.

“There is a great deal of effort being expended by government to avoid legitimate scrutiny. And it’s getting worse. These attacks on press freedom undermine democracy.”

opinion/analysis
From my personal point of view as a journalist, I strongly agree with what Paul Murphy has said here.

It is simply absurd for journalists and Opposition MPs and their staff to be targeted by police for simply doing their job and holding the Government of the day to account for its actions. Democracy itself relies on the ability of Opposition parties and journalists to do their work.

53 COMMENTS

  1. You know something is rotten when, in an effort to intimidate and hide the truth, they use the jackboot approach. All over information that SHOULD be in the public realm anyway. The NBN is hardly ASIO or the Department of Defense. Clearly the current powers that be feel that the public doesn’t have a right to know what’s going wrong…

    • no… they know the public have a right to know. They just dont want them to know, period. Its about high time there was some TAX reform in this country. And guess what is also well over due for a reform? The political system and how no one is ever held accountable nor are they transparent. EVERYTHING should be completely transparent. sunshine being the great disinfectant.

      • ts about high time there was some TAX reform in this country.

        I agree, but no one here seems to want to pay tax here, it’s all about tax cuts. I have a good job, and would easily be a “middle class earner” and I’d be happy to pay 50% tax if we had a system like Denmark….or any of the Northern European countries. They have a much better standard of living than we do with governments that are generally more interested in making sure their people are looked after.

        The political system and how no one is ever held accountable nor are they transparent. EVERYTHING should be completely transparent. sunshine being the great disinfectant.

        +100

        It’s criminal what the LPA have been doing lately. How are the people in a supposed democracy supposed to make an informed choice when the LPA spin so much BS and hide everything.

        • What Scandanavian countries have you spent time in?

          If you had you’d recogninise the delusional suggestion they enjoy a “much better standard of living” than Australians; all I know there would love to move to Australia.

          Finally there’s nothing preventing any Australian from paying more tax today (you to 50%). That they don’t highlights their hypocrisy.

          • @ Richard,

            It’s not a question of individuals who already pay their fair share of taxes being hypocritical by not paying more/50%.

            It’s a question of cutting out the loop holes and havens that allow the wealthiest who are avoiding paying their fair share (if not completely avoiding altogether) that needs to be addressed.

            You’re welcome.

          • The “wealthy” have never paid high rates of tax, never will. They’ve the means to ensure they won’t (it’s been tried many times, how did France’s recent policies work out?).

            What the leftoids are really talking about are salaried workers and entrepreneurs. The top 10% of these currently pay 50+% of all income tax.

            Top marginal rate 45 + 2 (deficit repair levy) + 2 (Medicare). A further min 9.5% required into super (which all parties now targeting with retrospective legislation). Spending on most items attracts a 10% (GST), a few (enjoyable) other items hundreds of percent excise.

            How much of the remaining 30% would it be “fair” for us to keep?

            When “they” say they’re happy to pay more in tax; they mean others (the hypocrisy; they can pay more now).

            That the money raised (today even borrowed against future taxpayers) is universally spent so inefficiently (eg NBNCo failure, your pink batts) makes the proposition incomprehensible.

          • Yes thank you Richard for a typically drawn out ultra wet, comment which in essence, says SFA…

            But looking at the minimal substance you did actually spew forth, it’s apparent that you don”t wish to even try to rein in those who make massive wealth and pay no tax and then call those who do leftoids and expect the leftoids to pay 50%?

            Got it, you are waaaay further to the right, out of touch and more blinded to reality than even I thought.

            I guess such insular stupidity demonstrates why you will readily accept the many, many $B’s and years of roll out blow outs… in relation to MTM…

            That yes… “you could have been commissioned to write

            Nice work Dick.

            You’re welcome.

            You’re welcome.

          • Difference between us two has always been knowledge and experience, you’ve neither. I can see why numbers intimidate.

            Tell us your plan to tax the wealthy, I’ll show you where it has been tried before.

            Describe the “fairness” in letting me keep less than 30% of my effort, whilst I’m forced to pay for home insulation (probably much more) that you’re too lazy to do yourself.

            I get the attraction for many, like gambling they want money for nothing. In the end the outcome is always the same; not enough from the few to pay for the desires of the many and the system collapses.

            To understand “reality” you need awareness of history and the world around us. Like the Scandinavian comment above; easy to assume things when you’ve neither knowledge or experience. Then you mock both, gloating about your lack of either as if a plus.

          • Richard says Richard has greater knowledge and experience…

            Yet everyone else with actual knowledge and experience, even those renowned so, laugh at you Richard, yes laugh at you, Richard.

            The Scandinavian comment was not even made by me, yet again delivering your typical, uneducated, strawman approach to the (topical) comms debate (think Brissy line too… lol).

            Richard if you were half as knowledgable and half as experienced as you believe you are, you would indeed be the epitome.

            Unfortunately, let me copy/paste reality for you…“everyone else with actual knowledge and experience, even those renowned so, laugh at you Richard, yes laugh at you, Richard”.

            You’re welcome.

          • Not wrong there Rizz, I know several Telstra GM’s who cant believe TurnCoat could be this stupid and think he could get away with it.

            They are in the Mobile side of the business and yet even they know copper tech is past its use by date!

          • Ooh Richard, BTW just a little friendly advice from a Delimiter bro, bro…

            Since you are paying over 70% tax, obviously your accountant has no experience, knowledge and frankly, has NFI.

            One could go as far as to surmise he must be a “dick”.

            Sack him.

            *grins*

            You’re welcome.

          • What Scandanavian countries have you spent time in?

            Denmark and Norway. You Richard?

          • To understand “reality” you need awareness of history and the world around us. Like the Scandinavian comment above; easy to assume things when you’ve neither knowledge or experience. Then you mock both, gloating about your lack of either as if a plus.

            As usual, your “call to authority” is “yourself”.

            I deny “Richard” as an actual “authority” in this particular field. Meaning, you know nothing worthwhile in the advancement of society Richard. You’re particular forte is the advancement of self.

          • To understand “reality” you need awareness of history and the world around us. Like the Scandinavian comment above; easy to assume things when you’ve neither knowledge or experience. Then you mock both, gloating about your lack of either as if a plus.

            You know nothing Richard Snow…

            Actually, you really don’t, you only know how to help yourself. (typical of “your” class)

            And unless your parents paid for you to do your degree in the USA, your education in accounting was paid for by me (and many other Australians).

            Either way, you’re a hypocrite, much like most in the LPA that had a free education and then went on to attack it.

          • Difference between us two has always been knowledge and experience, you’ve neither. I can see why numbers intimidate.

            More of Richard trying to “prove” Richard is still relevant. You are only relevant in your own mind Richard, what worth are you to anyone but “Richard”.

            Pretty well zero.

            You only want to feather your own nest, and you don’t give a shit about anyone but youreself.

            I already have 100Mbps (1gbps at work), and I pay/paid for that myself. I don’t argue for FttP because “I” want it, I argue for it (for all) because I actually do believe it’s a good thing for the country as a whole.

            I really am over you you tiresome fuck, you always look down your nose at everyone, and you have No. Fucking. Idea. where they are coming from or what situation they are in.

            I’m in a good place, I have a great job and have some pretty good super aside. We (you and me) are probably pretty close in the food chain of the economy, but you seriously disgust me in the positions you take. You are a greedy bastard that only thinks of yourself, and couldn’t give a shit about furthering the society that put you there.

            Good day.

          • Worked in Europe, seen all of Scandinavia. On your trip to Denmark and Norway what did you discover that demonstrated their “much higher standard of living”? How did the locals react to you being from poor Australia?

            Don’t worry I already know the answer (rofl).

            Alex hasn’t offered his taxation insights, nor fairness Of his entitlement to more than 70% of others incomes.

            Derek talked to several people denying copper usability, despite the copper being used today.

            Tinman uses his self-authority to attack other’s;-) Zero self awareness. Brings in the leftoid “class” claiming we don’t know other’s (ironically knows nothing of others), incorrectly claimed free education (not my generation, subsidised true; unlike most I’ve repaid multiple old times).

            Several squealing rants always end with the same abuse (they’ve nothing else):

            “I really am over you you tiresome fuck, you always look down your nose at everyone, and you have No. Fucking. Idea. where they are coming from or what situation they are in.

            I’m in a good place, I have a great job and have some pretty good super aside. We (you and me) are probably pretty close in the food chain of the economy, but you seriously disgust me in the positions you take. You are a greedy bastard that only thinks of yourself, and couldn’t give a shit about furthering the society that put you there.”

            They claim to be furthering societies; intellectual giants;-)

            Apologies for wanting to keep 30% of my effort, clearly you guys deserve it;-)

          • Once gain I reiterate Richard… after that insightful comment (ahem) of your’s…

            Since you are paying over 70% tax, obviously your accountant has no experience, knowledge and frankly, has NFI.

            (stop sobbing) an sack him.

            You’re welcome.

          • Anyway Richard whilst I facetiously deride your obviously clueless accountant…

            I note with interest rather than you saying, yeah it’d be good for Australia… you were unable to actually offer any solutions to the wealthiest tax avoiders “not paying their fair share”…

            You the self proclaimed (well you must be, Richard said) doyen of numbers who could shut them down instantly with your years of knowledge and experience (cough) instead decides it’s all too hard..

            But yet in the same breathe whilst ergo advocating wealthy tax avoidance you have the chutzpah to whine about poor Richard paying too much tax…

            Oh that’s GOLD.

            If only you were wealthier eh Richard…?

            You’re welcome.

  2. It is simply absurd for journalists and Opposition MPs and their staff to be targeted by police for simply doing their job and holding the Government of the day to account for its actions. Democracy itself relies on the ability of Opposition parties and journalists to do their work.

    Indeed Renai.

    At the risk of Godwining this article, it’s getting a little scary how things are going in Australia these days.

    The aim of censorship under the Nazi regime was simple: to reinforce Nazi power and to suppress opposing viewpoints and information.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Germany#Nazi_Germany_.281933.E2.80.931945.29

    • The period I have in mind is very early in Hitler’s rise to power, where they didn’t yet have complete control of the country or the Reichstag, but used pretty much the same tactics to ‘discredit’ their political opponents.

      At least we haven’t gotten to the point of outlawing minor parties, though some of the rhetoric from the Liberal party’s right wing suggest they’d dearly love to ban The Greens…

      • True.

        I guess the LPA is actually pretty lucky here in Australia, having the “independant” News Corp right behind them and printing their newsletters.

        • This incident reported on the front page of today’s Daily Telegraph as: “COPS RAID LABOR”

          A calculated choice of short words for their target audience.

          • At least they are trying to save Albo. But I view the DT as the worst of them. Fairfax isn’t much better…you’re probably better off avoiding the “dead trees”…

      • The Libs dont need to outlaw the Greens, they are wedging them against Labor via preference deals instead.

      • I think the Senate preferences changes plan to do exactly that. Get rid of minor parties. It pains me to know that the Greens supported it.

        • Actually, for the coming election it lowers the quota to 7.5 (which should favour minor parties), it’ll be the elections after that that will be the issue.

        • Seriously, senate voting changes are far more democratic than what they replaced. The changes still preserve proportional representation, so any “microparty” that people actually want to vote for will get a seat.

          In the old system, the party and not the voter dictated how preferences flowed. This was designed to benefit the ALP and Liberals, but it also allowed minor parties to game the system if a large enough number of them worked together.

    • “it’s getting a little scary how things are going in Australia these days”
      I’ve been saying that since ASIO received enhanced powers. I won’t tolerate another term of these criminals.

  3. This should be used as a lever by journalists to highlight the problem with metadata retention generally, as well as the whistle-blower investigation laws, and get them to pressure Labor to commit to overturning these laws if it wins office. Labor is seeing first hand how these laws can be abused. It is the job if responsible government to protect individual freedoms and democracy itself, not undermine it with laws that water down both. Labor have made critical errors over the past decade with their right-wing defence and immigration policies – it’s time they kicked their right wing faction to the curb on this.

    • Hell yeah, it was obvious these laws would be abused, and pretty well everyone that isn’t a politician could see it coming.

  4. The best thing about this whole saga is that it’s already blowing up in TurnCoat’s face and encouraging the Media to scrutinise the MtM fuckup more closely!

  5. They’ve blown all the money on recycled dead assets and imposing their fascism to hide it.

  6. So we have a member of the complainant (NBN Co) inside the raid and a competitor of the named media outlets filming the raid. How did Sky end up being present?

  7. This is pretty standard in virtual one-party states like Malaysia (there are many parties, but UMNO/BN rules). Indeed, the Murdoch press front page “Cops Raid Labor!” makes them sound like Utusan (govt friendly joke of a newspaper), and combined with the presence of SKY news at the raids puts beyond doubt the political nature of the actions.

    The Liberals latest appointments have stacked public office with people who have loyalty to the party. A move familiar to anyone living where one-party rule has been attempted.

  8. > NBN raids an “attack on press freedom”, says media union

    Problem is both Labor and Liberals voted for these laws under bi-partisan agreement to stop whislerblowers (A wikileaks and snowden scenario) and at the same time our national security / data rentention laws were voted for. The only party which stood up against these changes were independents, greens and 1-2 liberal/labour whom voted

    We have this situation played out where someone has leaked and blew the whistle on NBNco for some valid reason of concern. AFP is called in by NBNco to investigate and asked for photo evidence of the raid to be destroyed to protect the identity of the AFP officers

    Labor is crying wolf

    • +1

      Naively believing there may be an (ahem) unspoken arrangement to not use these against each other…

      d’oh

    • Labor is crying wolf

      -1

      While I agree Labor should not have backed the LPA with data retention, I think you’re a long way off saying they are the same as the LPA. Labor have always been more supportive of whistleblowers than the LPA, and they have also been a lot more transparent.

      • TM What saying is they had a choice and made a compromise with the liberals

        Shorten did ask for changes. But he was light handed on enforcement scope creep and got the liberals to back down just a fractions, But the whistle-blower has happened to them now and reason to cry poor wolf.

        You could of voted ‘No’ at the first place and blocked the bill from reaching the senate. But instead you voted yes and compromised your position or weaken whistle-blowers rights

          • Labor doesn’t have a majority in the HoR, thus they can’t block bills in the Hor.

            My ffs stands.

          • They have influence on other members in the parliament and present an argument to change people mind or cross the floor

          • The Coalition has the overwhelming majority in the HoR. There would to be a mass crossing-of-the-floor to change one of their bills.

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