The Wire

Freedom of speech was the topic of debate at a conference held in Sydney today. The Right to Know conference pitched both sides against each other – those trying to get information on behalf of the public and those who are trying to withhold it. Other issues included privacy, new Freedom of Information Laws, defamation and whistleblowers legislation. Many argued that leadership on those issues needs to come from Government agencies to build a culture of pro-disclosure. According to leading journalists, freedom of speech and the public right to know are an essential part of our democracy. So where do we stand when it comes to freedom of speech in Australia?