No Press Freedom Without Digital Freedom
World Press Freedom Day reminds us that democracy depends on people being able to speak, report, and scrutinise power without fear. Journalists expose corruption, inform the public, and hold institutions to account. In 2026, many of the most serious threats to press freedom are digital. Today, press freedom depends not only on whether journalists can […]
Why Australia Needs Its Whistleblowers
Why Australia needs its whistleblowers–especially in a murky digital landscape.
Centrelink duty of care has failed, regardless of Information Commissioner ruling
Privacy rights groups Digital Rights Watch, the Australian Privacy Foundation and Electronic Frontiers Australia have slammed a statement by the Office of the Information Commissioner and the Privacy Commissioner that their investigation found no wrongdoing in the release of personal information by a government department. In February 2017, writer Andie Fox wrote an article that […]
Protecting Sources and Whistleblowers in the Digital Age
I recently had the pleasure of participating in the Walkley Foundation panel discussion on “Protecting Sources and Whistleblowers in the Digital Age”. My co-panelists were Paul Farrell (Buzzfeed, ex-Guardian), Elise Worthington (ABC), with Julie Posetti (ex-Fairfax/ABC) as compere. As well as providing a forum for the panel discussion, the event served as the official release […]
Data retention: universal warrant requirement is only effective protection
Last week’s revelation by the Australian Federal Police that they illegally accessed the retained telecommunications data (‘metadata’) of a journalist without first obtaining a warrant demonstrates the complete lack of effective protection provided by the current legislation. AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin asserted that ‘the police officers investigating the leak did not realise they were required […]