Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from Australian Community Media, which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. Today's newsletter is written by ACM executive editor James Joyce.
When Australian Taxation Office Commissioner Chris Jordan used his opening statement to a Senate estimates hearing last week to launch an attack on ATO whistleblowers and the Australian media's #righttoknow campaign, he appeared to present the perfect example of why better protections are needed for whistleblowers and journalists.
Some of the Senators who witnessed Mr Jordan's spray later accused the tax commissioner of abusing parliamentary privilege to personally attack ATO employees-turned-whistleblowers Richard Boyle and Ron Shamir.
Mr Jordan told the committee that both employees "were subject to ongoing workplace performance or conduct issues", he described the reporting of Mr Boyle's court case as "deliberately sensationalist" and said the #righttoknow campaign's claim that the Tax Office can take money directly out of people's accounts without them knowing was misleading.
His comments to the Senate economics committee may have to be expunged from Hansard over fears they could prejudice court proceedings, though that didn't stop the ATO from publishing his opening statement in full on its website.
And then there was the note Mr Jordan followed up with to the ATO's 18,000 staff.
Journalist Adele Ferguson, who originally told Mr Boyle's story in a joint investigation with The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the ABC's Four Corners, wrote at the weekend that the tax commissioner's follow-up note to staff "doubled down" on his parliamentary performance.
Mr Jordan told employees that he'd decided to use parliamentary privilege to "correct the record" about the ATO's treatment of "so-called whistleblowers". And, for those who missed his Senate show, there were links to an online video recording and the written version of his statement.
"If this doesn't have a chilling effect on would-be whistleblowers coming forward, I don't know what would," Ferguson observed.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Scotty Morrison's Chamber of Secrets, everyone's been donning invisibility cloaks in the all-seeing-no-talking halls of the magical-mystery castle of Hogwash:
Home Affairs is being investigated for its failure to process Freedom of Information requests within the legally required time limits.
Australia's cyber security agency has confirmed it pressured organisers of a major conference to drop two speakers, one a noted whistleblower.
And a report into a computer hack at Parliament House might not be released, even in redacted form.
A week after the unprecedented all-media #righttoknow campaign was launched with the front pages of the nation's daily newspapers symbolically censored with a redacted government document, Coalition MPs and Senators have for the most part lined up behind the Prime Minister and his "no one is above the law" rhetoric, while Labor has used the press freedom push to bash the government (despite its earlier support for some of the laws in question).
Thankfully, there have been some independent voices speaking up, and sensibly, from the cross-bench. And, yes, that includes Senator Jacquie Lambie.
Here's what some of Australian Community Media's leading journalists and columnists have had to say on the issue over the past week:
Newcastle Herald journalist Joanne McCarthy:
"I've spent more than 13 years challenging powerful Australians, including churchmen, who thought they were above the law. Too many politicians, for too long, stayed mute.
"I know hundreds of quiet Australians - women abused and abandoned by our health system, and people sexually abused and betrayed by churches and other institutions. Many were betrayed again when they sought help from powerful churchmen who counted prime ministers as friends.
"The quiet Australians I know were the silenced Australians. Until they spoke to the media and found their voices."
Read Joanne's opinion here.
Canberra Times commentator Jack Waterford:
"The problem is bigger than excessive secrecy and inadequate accountability in matters loosely connected with national security.
"Once we have agreed to restrict our liberties by increasing the powers of those in the national security state, the slippage begins.
"Soon cops and others will have access to bugging, tapping, interception and coercive powers - extending all the way down to parking fines."
Read Jack's full analysis here
The Border Mail columnist Zoe Wundenberg:
"If you see something, say something. Or so we are told by our government in the fight against terror on our home soil. Dob in your neighbour. Report your colleague. Be the eyes and ears of the government.
"Unless, of course, you aim your telescope at Parliament House."
Read Zoe's comments here
Australian Community Media is part of Australia's Right To Know, the coalition of 20 media organisations and industry groups leading the #righttoknow campaign. Read more here.
James Joyce
Executive Editor, Australian Community Media
