Free press backed by Hodgman

TASMANIAN Premier Will Hodgman has backed freedom of the press as Labor and the Greens raise concerns about the right to information process.

Media companies from all over Australia, including the Mercury, have united in an unprecedented action to fight for press freedoms and the public’s right to know what’s going on.

It was revealed yesterday the lifting of a blanket ban on the media reporting on bail hearings in otherwise open Tasmanian courts would be considered by the State Government.

When asked for his views on the legislated ban, Mr Hodgman said his government strongly supported freedom of the press.

“I think our nation is one that’s built on the values of freedom of speech and that includes freedom of our press,” he said.

“Obviously there are important balances that need to be taken into account — court proceedings being one of those or our nation’s security.”

The Mercury also sent the Premier a number of direct questions including: ‘ Do you believe in open and transparent government?’ ‘What’s your message to the bureaucracy about openness and transparency?’ and ‘Should the media be able to report on bail proceedings heard in open court?’.

A response from a government spokesman only addressed the final question — “the Attorney-General has committed to look at the issue as part of the broader bail law reform work that is under way”.

Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad said transparency was fundamental to democracy.

“But the Hodgman Government has zero commitment to the release of government information to the public,” she said.

“Tasmania’s right to information disclosures are among the worst resourced in the country and we are constantly kept in the dark on government reports, which are either heavily redacted or not released at all.”

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said recent extra funding for the Ombudsman’s office was welcome, but was “the last bandaid on a huge wound”.

“What needs to happen is rather than burdening the Ombudsman, people ought to be able to get their reasonable requests answered by the government department in the first instance,” she said.