Transparency is vital for democracy and a free press is fundamental in exercising that right.
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Journalism, as the fourth estate, is vital in ensuring the public is kept abreast of current affairs but also the mechanisms of governments, organisations and those in positions of authority.
In the last few weeks alone, The Examiner has sought details of structural problems at TasTAFE, to investigate why the Launceston General Hospital has operated at the code yellow level of its escalation policy for much of this week and why the City of Launceston council does not know how much it has spent on external consultants.
This week, we sought a commitment from each of Tasmania's politicians on whether they supported the tenets of the national Your Right to Know campaign and to articulate their support for press freedom and whistleblower protection. It gave those who are in an elected position of power the chance to take a stand on an issue that is integral to democracy. What is disappointing and weak, is that not all chose to take that opportunity and speak out on what they believe in. Tasmanian Labor members chose to toe the party line, offering a generic response to the issue, despite being contacted individually.
Senator Nick McKim, who was outspoken in his support for the campaign also took the opportunity to take a shot at the opposition for its support of motions that led to these issues. Tasmanian Liberal Senator Wendy Askew said she would prefer not to comment on this issue - a cop out.
Agree with them or not, at least Liberal Senator Eric Abetz had the integrity to show leadership expected of elected members.
Press freedom and whistleblower protection is not about virtue-signalling about the importance of the media, nor is it simply about a free press. It is about the average person's right to know and to question, the decisions of those who are in a position of power and those who are making decisions on behalf of those who live here - those who elect and vote our parliamentarians to their power. Transparency is not a word, nor a concept, to be scared of, but it is one that our leaders should embrace openly.
