Julia Gillard's henchman Stephen Conroy attacks freedom of the press

[nero_bolt]

Socialism bordering on communism Gillard and Labor style.  ( This will please the luvies and the socialists on here I am sure)

THIS government will go down in history as the first Australian government outside of wartime to attack freedom of speech by seeking to introduce a regime which effectively institutes government sanctioned journalism.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/an-aggressive-attempt-to-silence-your-media/story-e6frezz0-1226595884130

Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is threatening to take away privacy law exemptions - often described as shield provisions - which are fundamental to the operation of journalism in our democracy. He clearly said today that these protections for journalism would be removed if the proposed Public Interest Media Advocate was unhappy with the oversight of a media company's reporting by the Australian Press Council.

This removes the capacity of journalists to do their job - it is a not too sophisticated endeavour to gag the media.

The government also risks standing as the one that turned the clock back to last century, with its highly interventionist, vague and unnecessary public interest test on media ownership - which is nothing more than a political interest test which governments will use to punish outlets they don't like.

It will only serve to add layers of uncertainty, huge cost and inefficiency, adding yet another cost on business and Australian taxpayers.

The stated rationale of the public interest test is that it is to preserve media diversity. Yet there is more media diversity today than in all of human history. Moreover, both the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Communications and Media Authority already have extensive powers to enforce media diversity today.

The minister has made no case as to the inadequacy of these existing powers. This proposal cannot be about diversity - that false need in the face of plenty is a sad disguise for the government's desire to control the media. The irony that the reference to a desire to preserve diversity is contained in a statement which advocates the abolition of the 75 per cent television broadcast reach rule is not lost on journalists.

The Public Interest "Tsar" will be beholden to government and will act as its gatekeeper. It is a sad day for Australian democracy.

It also represents a profound debasing of public policy process to sit on two reports for a year and then to put a gun to the head of parliament and business demanding passage of a series of bills in less than a week - all without any consultation with the print and digital media industry. Bills which have a huge impact on major employers, thousands of employees, investors and taxpayers in the Australian economy are being proposed in an old fashioned "stick 'em up" style hardly reflecting reasonable behaviour in a dynamic modern digital economy.

The whole approach today constitutes a travesty of public policy and parliamentary process.

Good read here

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/julia-gillards-henchman-stephen-conroy-attacks-freedom-of-the-press/story-e6freuy9-1226595971160

[izabsmiling]

I believe that many people left or right do want to hear about it and in fact can see that the Telegraph did not in fact tell us about it (which is their job to do) at all.

[izabsmiling]

what they have done is proven the need 

[donnashuggy]

you have got it all wrong ibis, open your eyes and ears

http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/news-limiteds-hysterical-campaign-confirms-need-for-media-regulation/

[*ibis]

independentaustralia.net = left wing propaganda

[donnashuggy]

So you refuse to read it ibis? Please point out the good things about phone hacking to me.

Back later

[*ibis]

So you refuse to read it ibis

don't put words in my mouth

 you know if i don't like a movie i get up and leave

if i don't like whats on television i change the channel or turn it off

if i don't like a newspaper i don't read it

i don't sit around typing up 10,000 posts whinging about it and because i don't like it it should be censored. to each their own

Please point out the good things about phone hacking to me

que?:|

[ladydeburg]

Conroy all but capitulated on the Insiders this morning about getting it through the parliament. He said if it doesn't go through without any amendments he will withdraw it.

He's finally getting the picture that his hatred for News Ltd has backfired to the extent that if it fails on the floor Gillard will be dead.

All on here who have supported this regulation & law to restrict the free press are strindently trying to c&p anything & everything.

I would never agree to press restrictions under any circumstances. I am a proud Australian, I will stand up  when any threats to our freedoms are attacked.

There is the few who are brave enough to come on here & say so, to stand up & be counted, it but shamefully the majority do not

[newstart2380]

Conroy all but capitulated on the Insiders this morning about getting it through the parliament. He said if it doesn't go through without any amendments he will withdraw it.

He's finally getting the picture that his hatred for News Ltd has backfired to the extent that if it fails on the floor Gillard will be dead.

All on here who have supported this regulation & law to restrict the free press are strindently trying to c&p anything & everything.

I would never agree to press restrictions under any circumstances. I am a proud Australian, I will stand up  when any threats to our freedoms are attacked.

There is the few who are brave enough to come on here & say so, to stand up & be counted, it but shamefully the majority do not

I agree, the freedom to report on FACTS is part of our democratic standards, if papers are blinkered and are hobbled then it becomes a joke. Reporting the facts is essential and there is nothing at all wrong with printing them however they must be unbiased and truthful reports. The papers are not immune to prosecution if they are found to be printing libellous propaganda.

NOW off the soap box and ditto to what ever Ibis has for the disclaimer

[izabsmiling]

 I am a proud Australian, I will stand up  when any threats to our freedoms are attacked.

If so stand up against the Telegraph's coverage of this 

[freakiness]

All on here who have supported this regulation & law to restrict the free press are strindently trying to c&p anything & everything.

I would never agree to press restrictions under any circumstances. I am a proud Australian, I will stand up  when any threats to our freedoms are attacked.

There is the few who are brave enough to come on here & say so, to stand up & be counted, it but shamefully the majority do not

Do you have any ideas about how to get them reporting the truth?

Do you have any ideas about how to stop them making up stories?

Any ideas on how to ensure they are not hacking into phones and online accounts?

Do you think all of the above should be without penalty?

Not saying I'm a fan of the proposals, just curious.

The reviews were held for good reason and most changes do not involve curtailing the rights of journalists, nor require them to name their sources. We should demand truth in reporting and definition of opinion as opposed to news.