There are easy steps to shield public interest journalism from erosion, whether by targeted police raids or the fear that chills free speech
Last week’s raids on the ABC and Annika Smethurst sent a clear message: the AFP is cracking down on whistleblowers and is prepared to go after journalists to do so. This message is disturbing enough, especially as the leaks happened well over a year ago. But the raids carry greater meaning. They are a timely call to check the rapidly expanding scope of federal security powers and to better protect the health of our democracy.
Since the 11 September attacks in 2001, Australia has gone from zero national counter-terrorism laws to more such laws than anywhere else in the world. Most of them have amended existing laws, building a complex network of powers that escalates with successive years and successive governments. This process has been smoothed by another point of Australian uniqueness: our absence of a national charter of human rights.
Continue reading...from The Guardian http://bit.ly/31nn2FQ
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