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CENSORSHIP OF THE MEDIA IN AUSTRALIA

CENSORSHIP OF THE MEDIA IN AUSTRALIA. Freedom of speech/ Does Australia need a Bill of Rights?. What Is Censorship?.

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CENSORSHIP OF THE MEDIA IN AUSTRALIA

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  1. CENSORSHIP OF THE MEDIA IN AUSTRALIA Freedom of speech/ Does Australia need a Bill of Rights?

  2. What Is Censorship? • Censorship is the control of information and ideas circulated within a society. It is used for the purpose of altering or suppressing ideas found to be objectionable or offensive. • Not all censorship arises from government or external forces. People self-censor all the time in an effort to maintain rational dialogue. • So why is the issue of censorship of the Australian media becoming such a volatile debate?

  3. Why is it currently in the media? • On 15th April, 2009, Herald & Weekly Times published an article by writer Andrew Bolt titled “It’s so hip to be black”. • The article asserted that some people with tenuous claims to Aboriginality manipulated this legal status for their own political or financial gain. • Bolt directly named nine “fair-skinned” Aborigines who subsequently took out class action against him. • On 28th September 2011, Bolt was found guilty of the Racial Discrimination Act of 1975. The case has since led to controversy regarding the media and individual’s right to free speech.

  4. What is a Bill of Rights? The main purpose of a Bill of Rights is to protect the fundamental rights and liberties of every citizen such as the right to freedom of speech and the right to a trial by jury. It also limits the amount of power that the government can have over the states and individuals. The United States of America included a Bill of Rights in the American Constitution in 1791 when it gained independence from the tyranny of British rule. Even today, the American Bill of Rights protects every individual’s freedom. In 2011 Australia still does not have a Bill of Rights in its Constitution.

  5. Key Words Suppression Restrictions Coerce Violation Editing Cajole Freedom of speech Limits Reprimand Compulsory Communication Judgement Offensive Bill of Rights Rebuke Discriminatory Constitution Denounce Control Perception Criticism Dictatorship Interpretation Enforced Implications Chastise Attack Mandatory Essential Abusive Condemn Politically correct Critical Disapproving Fault finding

  6. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights • In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). • The Declaration contains thirty articles protecting the rights of every individual as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. • A this time the UN General Assembly comprised of 58 Member Countries which scrutinized the document and voted a total of 1,400 times on almost every word of the text. • Australia was a founding member of the United Nations and is a signatory to this Declaration .

  7. Article 19 of the UDHR • Article 19 affirms the right to free speech: Article 19. “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

  8. However... • For the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be seen as Australian law, our government must pass it through a specific Act of Parliament. • Did you know that no Australian government has ever done this? Therefore the right to our freedom of speech is not protected by the Australian judicial system. We do not have a Bill of Rights in this country. • The fact that censorship of the media in Australia is an issue is clear evidence that our rights are being challenged. But to what extent?

  9. Who are the people affected by censorship of the media in Australia? The government – Federal and State Media and newspaper companies and their staff Businesses – national, local and overseas Trade Unions and their members eg. nurses Religious organisations The Australian public as a whole Everybody!! Stakeholders

  10. Additional Resources • United Nations Declaration of Human Rights: www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/UDHR/Australia_UDHR.html • The Australian Constitution: www.dfat.gov.au/facts/democratic_rights_freeedoms.html • Free Speech Rights and Australian Law: http://libertus.net/censor/fspeechlaw.html Freedom of the Press in Australia and Whistleblowers: http://democratic.audit.anu.edu.au/papers/20031119_nash_press_freed.pdf The Campaign for an Australian Bill of Rights: http://www.nswccl.org.au/issues.bill_of_rights/australia.php

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