Australia
Government actions against journalists in Australia
Australia is in Australia and New Zealand, Oceania. The record holds 3 incidents in which the government of Australia, or an official, court or legislature there, limited journalists' ability to report.
Tactics used
- Surveillance and subpoenas: 2 incidents
- Prior restraint: 1 incident
- Secrets and espionage laws: 1 incident
- Shutdowns and blocking: 1 incident
Heads of government at the time
Incidents by year
2020
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 15, 2020 | Australia's High Court invalidates warrant for raid on journalist Annika Smethurst | Surveillance and subpoenas | Scott Morrison | Reversed (May 27, 2020) |
2019
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 5, 2019 | Australian Federal Police raid the national broadcaster over reporting on alleged war crimes in Afghanistan | Surveillance and subpoenas | Scott Morrison | Reversed (October 15, 2020) |
1944
| Date | Incident | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 16, 1944 | Australia's wartime government seizes a Sydney newspaper edition under press controls rules | Prior restraint | John Curtin | Reversed (April 18, 1944) |
Compare Australia by tactic · Timeline for Australia · Oceania