Leslie Massey
In 2019, a landmark #righttoknow campaign was launched by Visibility, a coalition of Australia's leading media organisations and industry groups, to address the Australian government's secrecy and the erosion of media freedom. The campaign revealed that 87% of Australians value a free and transparent democracy, but only 37% believe this is the current reality in the country. While the government withholds information on various issues, Australians believe they have a right to know about matters such as aged care abuse, proposed new powers to spy on citizens, and the terms of land sales to foreign companies. The campaign also follows concerns about the government's lack of transparency on key public issues, including the misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration, and climate change. Additionally, there are questions about the government's involvement in mass data surveillance programs like PRISM and the lack of evidence that this surveillance has improved national security.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Media freedom | The government has passed about 75 laws related to secrecy and spying over the past two decades, which effectively criminalise journalism and penalise whistleblowing. |
| Aged care abuse | The government has withheld information relating to aged care abuse, with 81% concerned about the thousands of complaints about aged care homes that the government won't share with the public. |
| Surveillance | The government has considered new surveillance powers, including mandatory data retention, and has received "huge volumes" of information from PRISM and other US intelligence collection programs. |
| Transparency | Only 37% of Australians believe they are kept informed by the government, which has withheld information on key public issues including the misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration, and climate change. |
| Whistleblowers | 88% of Australians say that those who call out wrongdoing play a vital role in society, but the government has penalised whistleblowers through its laws. |
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What You'll Learn
Aged care abuse
Elder abuse can take various forms, including financial abuse, neglect, and mistreatment, and it is considered a form of violence. Indigenous Australians living in metropolitan areas may face additional challenges in seeking help due to a lack of family support and community connections. Ageism, or discrimination based on age, has been recognised for its detrimental impact on individuals, with the UN releasing a global report on the issue. Ageism is associated with poorer health, increased isolation, financial insecurity, and a decreased quality of life for older people.
The #RightToKnow campaign emphasised the public's right to know about issues like aged care abuse, misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration, and climate change. The campaign was a response to police raids on news outlets and journalists' homes, highlighting the importance of media freedom and the public's right to information.
To address aged care abuse, Australia has resources such as the Aged Care Complaints Commissioner (1800 951 822) and Seniors Rights Service, which offer support and information to those experiencing or witnessing elder abuse. Additionally, organisations like White Ribbon Australia provide free, confidential counselling services for individuals affected by family and domestic violence, including elder abuse.
The issue of aged care abuse in Australia underscores the need for transparency and accountability from the government, with Australians valuing a free and transparent democracy where they are kept informed and empowered to take action against any form of abuse or neglect impacting their older population.
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Proposed new powers to spy on citizens
In 2019, the #RightToKnow campaign brought to light the Australian government's withholding of information relating to aged care abuse, proposed new powers to spy on ordinary citizens, and the terms of land sales to foreign companies. The campaign was a collaborative effort by major media outlets across the country, including print, digital, and radio platforms, to highlight the continued threats to media freedom and the public's right to information.
The campaign revealed that the Australian government had passed about 75 laws related to secrecy and spying over the past two decades, effectively criminalizing journalism and penalizing whistleblowing. It also exposed the government's attempts to cover up information on key public issues, including the misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration, and climate change.
The proposed new powers to spy on citizens have been met with criticism and concern from various sectors. Leading academics, legal experts, and advocacy groups have argued that these powers constitute an "overreach" and a threat to civil liberties. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) has also expressed alarm at the vague and inconsistent description of the proposed powers' reach, emphasizing the need for comprehensive safeguards to protect democracy and human rights.
The new powers would enable authorities to seek three new types of warrants: data disruption warrants, account takeover warrants, and network activity warrants. These warrants would allow law enforcement agencies to modify and delete data, take over accounts, and spy on Australians suspected of committing crimes. However, critics argue that the definition of "relevant" offences is vague and inconsistent, potentially impacting the privacy and rights of all Australians.
The debate around the proposed new powers to spy on citizens in Australia highlights the tension between national security concerns and the public's right to privacy and information. While the government argues for the necessity of enhanced surveillance capabilities to combat criminal activity, critics advocate for stronger protections for whistleblowers and journalists, emphasizing the importance of a free and transparent democracy.
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Terms of land sales to foreign companies
Australia has long been a desirable destination for foreign investors due to its stable economy, favourable tax environment, and attractive property market. The country's vast and diverse landscape also offers a range of investment opportunities, from You may want to see also In 2019, 87% of Australians were found to value a free and transparent democracy where the public is kept informed. However, only 37% believed that this was the reality in Australia at the time. The Australian government has been criticised for withholding information relating to aged care abuse, proposed new powers to spy on ordinary citizens, and the terms of land sales to foreign companies. One of the key concerns is the misuse of personal data. The government has been accused of collecting and storing large volumes of data through programs like PRISM, a US signals intelligence collection program. This has raised questions about the extent and scope of data surveillance and whether it is justified in the name of national security. The government has also been criticised for its lack of transparency and for not providing evidence that mass data gathering has improved security or prevented serious crimes. In 2011-2012, there were nearly 300,000 requests for telecommunications data made without a warrant, highlighting a dangerous loophole in the system. Despite efforts to introduce amendments to protect citizens' data, major parties united to vote them down. The government's secrecy and lack of accountability have led to concerns about the misuse of personal data and the potential infringement of privacy rights. To address these concerns, campaigns such as #RightToKnow have been launched to advocate for media freedom and fair access to information. Australians are encouraged to join these campaigns and demand more transparency from their government, especially regarding the involvement of intelligence agencies in foreign surveillance programs. The Australian government has a responsibility to protect personal information from misuse, interference, and loss, as outlined in the Australian Privacy Act and other data protection laws. Entities regulated by the Privacy Act must comply with the NDB scheme and take reasonable steps to secure personal information, minimising the risk of data breaches and ensuring transparency when breaches occur. You may want to see also In Australia, political parties are publicly funded to reduce the influence of private money on elections and, subsequently, the shaping of public policy. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) distributes a set amount of money to each political party per vote received. For instance, after the 2013 election, political parties and candidates received $58.1 million in election funding. The Liberal Party received $23.9 million in public funds, while the Labor Party received $20.8 million. However, there are concerns about the lack of transparency in political funding. There are allegations of prohibited donations being funnelled through associated entities, such as the Free Enterprise Foundation, without proper disclosure. Additionally, the threshold for non-disclosed political donations has increased over the years, allowing more significant amounts to be donated without public knowledge. For example, in 2014, up to $111,600 could be donated to a political party without disclosure if the donations were spread across national and state/territory branches. Furthermore, there are fundraising entities not disclosed to the AEC or the public, such as Enterprise Victoria, the Greenfields Foundation, and the Fadden Forum. These entities do not make funding disclosures as they are structured as funding entities for specific candidates rather than associated entities of a political party. Payments made by "members" are treated as membership fees or service fees rather than donations. The lack of transparency in political funding has led to concerns about the influence of private money on elections and policy-making, with many calling for stronger regulations and disclosures to ensure a free and transparent democracy. You may want to see also The #RightToKnow campaign is a coalition of Australia's leading media organisations and industry groups. It was created to push the Federal Government into lifting its veil of secrecy. The campaign includes advertising across print and digital, radio and powerful television advertisements. The Australian government has been accused of withholding information relating to aged care abuse, proposed new powers to spy on ordinary citizens, and the terms of land sales to foreign companies. The government has also been accused of becoming less transparent on key public issues including the misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration and climate change. The Australian government has hidden behind its standard "we don't comment on national security matters" line.A Fair Wage: Should Australia's Minimum Wage Increase?
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