Free speech in Australia is being whittled away by legal restrictions and a secretive culture among public officials, according to a new report on press freedom.Author of the report, former NSW ombudsman Irene Moss, says there are grounds for concern about the state of free speech in Australia.Her audit, commissioned by a coalition of major media groups, says there are 500 pieces of legislation and at least 1,000 court suppression orders still in force that restrict media reporting in Australia.
www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/11/05/1194117939539.htmlAlso see:Report reveals Australia’s slide to secrecy, censorship
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Australians are the victims of a secretive culture that makes public officials too frightened to release vital information, a damning report on the state of free speech in the nation has found.The study of how information is kept hidden from the public has found that governments and judges are denying access to “vital information” through secrecy legislation, “flimsy” suppression orders and million dollar fees for individual Freedom of Information requests. www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22704124-5013456,00.htmlPress freedom declining: audit
An independent audit by former New South Wales ombudsman Irene Moss has found a general “subtle shift” towards secrecy in Australia.The audit reviewed legislation and practices related to free speech issues affecting the media in Australia.Ms Moss says Australians should not be complacent about declining media freedom.
abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/05/2081787.htmThe Report of the Independent Audit into the State of Free Speech in Australia is available from www.news.com.au/files/freespeechinaustralia.pdf