MEAA's submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor's review of the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act 2018 – submitted September 13 2019.
"MEAA is gravely concerned that the enacted legislation is neither reasonable nor proportionate.
The Act as it stands carries too few safeguards and exceeds the threats it seeks to manage. It typifies the sledgehammer to crack a walnut approach that is now commonplace in Government attempts to bolster national security and community safety at the expense of press freedom and the public's right to know what our governments do in our name.
MEAA Media's journalist members are especially concerned that warrants and orders may be issued in cases where matters of public interest have been reported through the provision of information by confidential sources and which attract penalties under the Commonwealth Crimes Act.
The breach of such a confidence by a journalist offends MEAA's Journalist Code of Ethics and endangers coverage of issues deserving public scrutiny."
