Comments on: Freedom of Information/Speech Report Released http://www.lawfont.com/2007/11/05/freedom-of-informationspeech-report-released/ an analysis of law, technology, economics, and policy Wed, 11 Aug 2010 08:06:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: kim http://www.lawfont.com/2007/11/05/freedom-of-informationspeech-report-released/comment-page-1/#comment-55752 kim Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:14:10 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/2007/11/05/freedom-of-informationspeech-report-released/#comment-55752 I do know what you mean. In fact, while the report is called an independent audit into "the State of Free Speech in Australia", I did consider a title 'Freedom of Information Report' issued. But then, the report is also about Whistleblowers' protection, so I left the title as you now see it. In any event, having run up against some of these barriers myself at times, I'm glad that someone more important than a mere academic is raising these issues in a coordinated, high profile kind of way. We do need to have more debate about free speech in Australia, and if self interest is the way to motivate that - so be it. I do know what you mean. In fact, while the report is called an independent audit into “the State of Free Speech in Australia”, I did consider a title ‘Freedom of Information Report’ issued. But then, the report is also about Whistleblowers’ protection, so I left the title as you now see it.

In any event, having run up against some of these barriers myself at times, I’m glad that someone more important than a mere academic is raising these issues in a coordinated, high profile kind of way. We do need to have more debate about free speech in Australia, and if self interest is the way to motivate that – so be it.

]]> By: Dale http://www.lawfont.com/2007/11/05/freedom-of-informationspeech-report-released/comment-page-1/#comment-55750 Dale Tue, 06 Nov 2007 23:55:27 +0000 http://www.lawfont.com/2007/11/05/freedom-of-informationspeech-report-released/#comment-55750 Call me a cynic, but when the media are bleating about "freedom of speech", what they're really interested in is "freedom of the press", and their ability to report on things that the government would rather keep under wraps. Not that I object to this - the media are an important part of government accountability, and the current FOI system is a joke, but I find it slightly disingenuous that the media are styling this argument as being about our freedom to speak rather than their freedom to publish. Call me a cynic, but when the media are bleating about “freedom of speech”, what they’re really interested in is “freedom of the press”, and their ability to report on things that the government would rather keep under wraps. Not that I object to this – the media are an important part of government accountability, and the current FOI system is a joke, but I find it slightly disingenuous that the media are styling this argument as being about our freedom to speak rather than their freedom to publish.

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