Analysis of Freedom of Press and Government Control in Australia

This essay explores the extent of press freedom in Australia in relation to government ideology, highlighting the absence of explicit constitutional protection for free speech and the increasing number of national security laws impacting media freedom. It examines the historical context, the role of the Australian Press Council, and international comparisons, noting Australia's decline in press freedom rankings. The essay discusses the balance between national security concerns and the public's right to information, particularly in the context of whistle-blower protection and classified information. It concludes that Australia lacks sufficient codified protection for freedom of speech, posing risks to press freedom and necessitating urgent redress, while also acknowledging the importance of media accountability and responsible reporting to prevent communal disharmony and safeguard national security. Desklib offers a variety of resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to aid students in their academic pursuits.

Freedom of Press and
Government Ideology

Table of Contents
Discuss the extent to which you think Australia has freedom of press...........................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................3
Discuss the extent to which you think Australia has freedom of press.......................................3
REFRENCES ..................................................................................................................................6

MAIN BODY
Discuss the extent to which you think Australia has freedom of press
Freedom of press is known as principle of communication as well as expression by media
consisting of electronic and printed media. This type of freedom implies absence for interference
as per overreaching state. At the early stage, captain Philip arrived Australia in the year 1788 and
he made no declaration of freedom of press and ant declaration of freedom of speech within new
colony. It was seen that there was no speech because fleet landed within Botany bay as it
contains declaration of independence. Australia has signed a joint statement with different
members of media freedom coalition. This provided an expression for future of press of freedom
within country. There are several government agencies which have proved real as well as serious
harm caused by publication of classified intelligence before investigation is launched. It is seen
that inquiry is dominated by greens senators and labour. In context of Australian Federal Police,
it is seen that there were several leaked classified documents in the media. Free speech within
Australia consists of political communication which is implied within constitution. There is need
for providing freedom of choice for electors(Shaozhi, 2019). It is seen that the Australian
approach is well followed from several old ideas that freedom is residual within law. It is said
that free speech is an individual right and it appears that High court requires to distinguish
freedom of political communication at the first amendment.
In Australia, it is seen that government can control which materials are public or
protected from disclosure to public(Yahya and et.al, 2019). Materials of state are protected
because of mainly two reason – information is classified as sensitive or information is protected
for national interest. The Australian constitution is not explicitly protecting free speech or free
press. It is considered that High Court is recognising narrow political communication within
constitution. The freedom for press is directly associated with government as well as political
matters. It develops relation to communication regarding government and political exercise. The
Australia Press council has different legislations and they have adopted it. The freedom of
opinion and expression is known as an important right of free individuals. Australia is a country
which is committed to universal declaration of human rights. If there is free press in a country,
then it is more beneficial for people to speak about different issues. It initiates truly democratic
society which is having open debate, criticism and discussion which are known as central

process of generating considered and informed choices. There are some processes which are
crucial for the formation of priorities and values. These help to asses as well as find solutions for
economic, social and political problems. When there is free press, then people of Australia can
have right to freedom of information. This provides access to differ opinions and declare various
principles. It is concluded that Australia has faced decline in press of freedom. There is a Paris
based NGO which has promoted media freedom. In context of annual world press freedom
index, country which was ranked 26th is Australia. This report provides information that there is
lack of constitutional protection for pass freedom (Ananny, 2018). After the 9/11 attack Australia
has adopted lot of security laws which are more than any liberal democracy within world. These
laws are divided according to block access for information. These are criminalised for dealing
and publishing important information and these enables authorities for tracking and monitoring
journalists in Australia. The main troublesome is the effect of laws which were held on whistle
blowers. Government has launched various laws in which it is jailable offense for government
insiders for revealing information that is deemed classified by government. Australian
government is charging both men with conspiracy for the violation of intelligence. A free,
unhindered and uncensored press or other media is very important for ensuring freedom of
opinion as well as expression. This includes constitution of cornerstones within the democratic
society. There are covenants which embraces a legal right. Media can receive the legal right on
the basis of which it can easily carry functions. There is free communication for information and
ideas within public regarding issues between citizens, elected representatives and
candidates(Duncan, 2019) . A healthy democracy like Australia needs to have an operational
efficiency for greatest degree of transparency and openness. Government has to require degree of
secrecy for managing the operations in effective manner. Openness and secrecy are needed for
society and democracy of Australia for thriving. It is concluded that Australia is lacking codified
national protection for freedom of speech. This grant significant legislative protections to
journalists but it is not present in Australia. There is particular risk for press freedom and this
deficit calls for urgent redress. The disclosure and secrecy regime of Australia are expanding in
recent years. According to the National security legislation amendment, it is concluded that
freedom of speech has to be managed effectively. The integrity and independence of warrant
process of the agency is involved and seeks dependency for issuing authority. There is warrant in
respect of journalists, sources and material for robust independent sight. In context of existing

legislative considerations and thresholds, it is seen that issuing authority is going to consider the
impact of media warrant on press freedom. There are several issuing authority which are
regarded as matters and it consists of privacy as well as availability of intrusive warrant. In
Australia, media warrant is contested and in cases where it is possible and appropriate n context
of search, the organisation or person against warrant is notified for opportunity of contesting.
There are several principles of accountability which inform whistle-blower protection regime in
equal manner(Potrafke, 2018). The information is associated with intelligence agency and the
conduct for intelligence is excluded. The national security laws are uniquely complex and broad.
In Australia freedom of press is not allowed as it can hinder the process of judiciary with its
influence upon its viewers. Media is one of the most common reason behind causing communal
right as they show such news which impacts psychological thinking of an individual leading
towards hate rate developed towards another community. Also media can hinder terrorist
operations and encounters by providing footage of the operation which makes enemies alert this
causes difficulty in killing them. Media makes at times various facts of the cases revealed with
makes justice not to be caused in its real sense. Through such reasons media has not been given
power of freedom within Australia. The constitution of Australis does not provide any freedom
to press in implied manner. Further Australia has barred media from showing any news of
government official and after the attack of 9/11 more strictness is applied by Australian
government.

REFRENCES
Books and Journals
Ananny, M., 2018. Networked press freedom: Creating infrastructures for a public right to hear.
MIT Press.
Benbow, D., 2021. An Adornian ideology critique of neo-liberal reforms to the English NHS.
Journal of Political Ideologies. 26(1). pp.59-80.
Brown, D. M., 2017. Land, Freedom and Fiction: History and Ideology in Kenya. Zed Books
Ltd..
Duncan, J., 2019. Beyond Human Rights Ideology: Struggles for Freedom of Expression in
Africa. In Human Rights in Africa (pp. 259-284). Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Fedorowycz, D., 2020. Beyond Ideology: Reassessing the Threat of Belarusian Opposition in
Interwar Poland. Nationalities Papers, pp.1-18.
Potrafke, N., 2018. Government ideology and economic policy-making in the United States—a
survey. Public Choice. 174(1). pp.145-207.
Shaozhi, S., 2019. Chinese communist ideology and media control. In China's media, media's
China (pp. 75-88). Routledge.
Yahya and et.al, 2019, March. The Ideology in" Culture, Education, and Intellectual Life?" a
Book Chapter by Vltchek: A political discourse analysis. In Second Conference on
Language, Literature, Education, and Culture (ICOLLITE 2018) (pp. 95-99). Atlantis
Press.