Governments have always sought to control information.
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In today's world, where information can be disseminated far and wide instantly through social media, you would think such efforts would be pointless.
Yet arguably our governments are focusing more on controlling the flow of information than ever before.
Nationally, we have seen police raids on journalists' homes and workplaces, the prosecution of whistleblowers and new laws that erode media freedom.
There is good reason for skepticism that laws introduced to keep us safe from terrorism will instead be used to protect the government from political harm.
We have also seen both at a federal and a state level the cynical manipulation of Freedom of Information processes, or Right to Information as it is known in Tasmania.
Both are becoming misnomers when the actual objective seems to be to deny the media, opposition and independent politicians and the general public information.
Only recently a journalist who submitted an FOI request to find out the cost of a federal Minister's overseas trip was told it would take the relevant Department 142 hours to process and cost at least $2515.
While the Minister distanced herself from the bureaucrats responsible for this nonsense advice, the example draws into question what the government is doing to be more transparent - not less.
Last week, in Tasmania, the state government was surprised by the release of a heavily redacted report about the Ashley Youth Detention Centre in which the words meant to be obscured could still be read.
A reasonable question remains as to why much of it was redacted in the first place.
Coincidentally, today's print edition graphically highlights what a heavily redacted media might look like.
A joint initiative of media across the country, the Your Right to Know campaign is aimed at shining a spotlight on threats to media freedom that inhibit our ability to hold those in power to account.
Our democracy - our way of life - depend on ensuring your right to know, and it's worth fighting for.