Ladder: prior restraint, in Oceania

An order or rule that stops something from being published before it appears, rather than penalising it afterwards. Examples are boards that must approve articles, books or films before release, court injunctions against publication, and rules that require officials to review material before it is published.

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

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StageAnyRestrictPressurePunishSilenceEliminate

ContinentAnyAfricaAsiaEuropeNorth AmericaSouth AmericaOceaniaAntarctica

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1. Restrict
2. Pressure
3. Punish
4. Silence
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4Silence

Removing outlets or channels from the public sphere: closures, licence withdrawals, forced sales, blocking and shutdowns, prior restraint, nationalisation.

AUAustraliaRSF 2026 rank: 33rd of 180

16 April 1944John Curtin

Australia's wartime government, under Prime Minister John Curtin, controlled press coverage of military events through the Department of Information.

Reversed 18 April 1944 · 2 sources · Full entry

All ladders · Prior restraint: by country and year · The United States chapter