Join our host Peter Kennedy, and speakers Joseph Fernandez, Mignon Shardlow and Neale Prior for a session on threats to journalists and their sources – in short, to journalism – within the current legislative framework. With time for some questions and a little refreshment.

Supporters of public broadcasting are well aware of the difficulties the ABC has experienced with continued cuts to funding, the three-year funding cycle, and political interference. But the threats to press freedom are wider than that. MEAA has stated: ‘Over the past decade or so, successive governments have passed multiple laws under the guise of national security which have effectively criminalised journalism.’

There is a lack of protection for whistleblowers, and we have tough defamation laws.

Raids by the Australian Federal Police on the home of a News Corp journalist and on the Sydney offices of the ABC have been criticised nationally and internationally.

So come along, listen, ask a question, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine in the foyer afterwards.

MC:  Peter Kennedy
Journalist and author, previously ABC senior political reporter and presenter, now Adjunct Professor of Journalism at Notre Dame University in Fremantle.

Guest Speakers:
Dr. Joseph Fernandez
Associate professor at Curtin University for 20 years teaching media law, previously editor of a Malaysian daily newspaper for 14 years.

Mignon Shardlow
A journalist who has worked in newsrooms overseas and in Western Australia, now Senior Lecturer in Communications and Media and discipline co-ordinator of journalism at Notre Dame University.

Neale Prior
Former police officer, journalist for 34 years with The Daily News, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, currently MEAA national media council member and finance journalist at The West Australian.

ABC Friends is a not-for-profit association, managed by an elected committee of volunteers, which aims to represent theb community interest in defending and promoting the vital role of Australia’s independent national public broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.  ABC Friends is  politically unaligned.