The Greens are backing the calls by the arts and creative industry for an urgent $500m rescue package to prevent collapse of the multi-billion dollar sector in the face of COVID-19.

Greens Spokesperson for the Arts, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Our creative and cultural industries are on the frontline of the COVID-19 fallout with events across the country cancelled and theatres, concerts and festivals effectively shutdown. 

A Media Freedom Act to protect the public’s right to know and whistleblowers who speak truth to power, will be introduced into the Senate, Greens Media Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young announced today.
 
Senator Hanson-Young who is Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms, said there had been a serious erosion of press freedoms in Australia which was deeply concerning and needing fixing.

Greens Spokesperson for Media and Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Federal Court’s dismissal of the ABC’s legal challenge against the validity of police warrants used to raid its Ultimo headquarters last year:

“Today’s court ruling over the ABC raids shows our press freedom laws are broken. We need proper protection for whistleblowers and journalists so the public know what’s really happening in our names and with our taxes. We have a right to know what the Government is up to.

After dragging its feet for over half a year, the Morrison Government has finally delivered its response to the Final Report of the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry.

While its findings were broad-ranging, the recommendations do not go anywhere near far enough to restore funding to the ABC and SBS, protect local content quotas and fund public interest journalism, said Senator for SA and Greens’ Spokesperson for Communications Sarah Hanson-Young.

Ahead of the Disney+ launch in Australia on Tuesday, November 19, the Greens have made a renewed push for local content quotas for streaming services.

Greens Spokesperson for Communications Sarah Hanson-Young said it was time local content rules applied to all screen industry players.

“Local content quotas are a huge boost for Australian creative content and deliver jobs for Australian production and recording companies, writers, directors, musicians, talent and stories,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, has vowed to look at the very concerning treatment of the press by police at the IMARC in Melbourne today.

“Journalists should be able to report on protests and demonstrations without being assaulted. Yet today, we’ve seen reports of a reporter being physically pushed and grabbed by police, and a journalist capsicum sprayed,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

Today’s landmark campaign by media outlets is a welcome offensive against the erosion of media freedom and whistleblower protections, the Greens say.

“Whether it’s cruelty of horses as we saw last week, abuse in aged care, or misconduct of the banks, media freedom and whistleblower protection isn’t just about journalists, it’s about the public’s right to know,” Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications and chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

Greens Spokesperson for Media Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Federal Attorney-General’s directive to the Commonwealth DPP that journalists not be charged without his approval:

“Journalists should not be charged for doing their jobs full stop.

“They should not have their homes raided. They should not be intimidated or threatened. They should not be attacked by the government for reporting what is in the public interest.

“Freedom of the press and protection for whistleblowers should not be at the whim of the government of the day.

The Greens responded to the AFP raid on the home of an Australian Signals Directorate intelligence officer today:

Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications and Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms and Whistleblower Protections Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Today’s raid by the AFP on an intelligence officer is very concerning. The intimidation of truth tellers by this government is alarming.

“Journalism and the protection of whistleblowers are essential pillars of democracy.

The Greens will consider the Digital Platforms Inquiry report and its 23 recommendations handed down today from the ACCC.

“Social media and digital platforms have fundamentally changed the way that we receive and consume news and information. Australia’s hyper-concentrated traditional media environment is not helped by this concentrated digital environment, with too much power amassing in the hands of just a few key players,” said Senator Hanson-Young, spokesperson for media and communications