The Alliance together with the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) hosted a conference of international and Australian journalists on November 30 to December 1 to discuss attacks on press freedom around the world. Leading journalists from Asia, Europe and Australia addressed critical topics including; journalism in a time of national security, freedom of expression, media regulation, the laws affecting the media’s role including defamation, contempt and freedom of information legislation and its impacts and the media’s role in the administration of justice.

News Ltd has proposed bringing all four of its suburban newspaper groups under the one national enterprise agreement. The linked document is their draft for the agreement that would include Quest (Brisbane), Cumberland (Sydney), Leader (Melbourne) and Messenger (Adelaide) and bring all their conditions and payrates into line. Linked here is the Award that would underpin the proposed national agreement. The Agreement will over-ride the Award to the extent of any inconsistency, eg Rates of Pay.  If the Agreement is silent on an issue, the Award conditions apply. Meetings of delegates will be convened to discuss the proposal.

The anti-terrorism laws proposed by the Australian Federal and State governments will be yet another stumbling block for press freedom in Australia. The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance is concerned that ‘notice to produce’ powers for the Australian Federal Police will be used to demand any information, including the identity of confidential sources and journalists notes which may identify sources, during their investigations.

New defamation legislation has been introduced into West Australian State Parliament this week. The Defamation Bill 2005 aims to enact model provisions agreed to by the State Attorneys-General in November 2004 in a bid to create nationally uniform defamation laws.