Just in case you missed it here is the ABC Alumni response to the Jackboots
OPEN LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON. SCOTT MORRISON AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
ABC Alumni, representing former staff, condemn the recent police raid on the ABC and the seizing of journalist scripts and notes.
We express our support and concern for all ABC staff who, like us, are deeply troubled by this assault on Australia’s national broadcaster. This police action, and others like it, strike at the heart of democracy by threatening media freedom.
The threat of imprisonment of journalists and their sources for disclosing information in the public interest is completely unacceptable. So too is the action of police in raiding the ABC in such a manner and in confiscating such a wide range of journalistic material. All documents seized during this raid remain ABC property and should be returned without alteration or delay.
We believe the legislation enabling this raid should be immediately repealed. In particular, police should have no right to delete or alter a publisher’s documents. The public interest must be paramount. We call on the Federal Parliament to pass legislation to protect the rights of whistle-blowers and the media, and to prevent this kind of intimidation.
We also call on the Australian Federal Police to adopt an interim protocol to protect journalistic freedom and integrity within the current law.
Freedom of expression and media are fundamental pillars of democracy. They should be a constitutional right for all Australians.
We urge ABC staff to remain strong in the face of this unprecedented intimidation, and we commend and support the actions of ABC management, the Managing Director David Anderson and the ABC Chair Ita Buttrose in defending the organisation.
Tony Souter
Elaine D. Cooke
Kay Nankervis
Amy Tsilemanis
Peter Marks
Sue Spencer
Ranald Macdonald
Helen Grasswill
Jeff McMullen
Heather Forbes
Catherine Shirley
Matt Peacock
Penny Chapman
Sue Tronser
Sandra Levy
Andrew Thorpe
Wendy McLeod
Mark Aarons
Coral Saunders
Deborah Nesbitt
Patricia Barraclough
Ramona Koval
Helen Matthews
Nick Goldie
Therese Kutis
Lynette Haszard
John Highfield
Don Smith
Rory Sutton
Robin Hughes AO
Peter Cave
Tim Ritchie
John Tulloh
Pauline Garde
Jan Land
Andy Nehl
Lachlan Brookman
Julie Rigg
Jane Jeffes
Emeritus Professor Ed Davis AM
Anne Fitzgerald
Dan Blu
Alison Caldwell
Sharon Carleton
John Lander
Bobbie Mackley
Richard Dinnen
Peggy Hayman (McDonald)
Ian Parmenter, OAM
John Davies
Peter Martin AM
Chris Williams
Jan Forrester
Maxine McKew
Glenda McNaught
John T Tan
Dasha Ross
Ken Begg
Peter Norden AO
Jacqui Sykes
Scott Feeney
John Challis
Tim Clark
Josephine Mercer
LIindsay Somerville
Linda Boland
Debbie Whitmont
Sharon Connolly
Luciana Peloza
Pepita Conlon
Jeremy Eccles
David Brill
Dr David Adamson
Gillian Appleton
Shaun Hoyt
Mike Honey
Kate Hodges
Michelle McDonagh
Eric R Hunter
Robert Garnsey
Margaret Pomeranz
Jonathan Holmes
John Lombard
Grace Speranza
Janice Drinan
Vivien Altman
James Beattie
Janette Morris
David Bates
Jackie
Margaret Reynolds, ABC Friends National
G Ruth Williams
Holly Raiche
Bill Bunbury
Christine Bratkovic
John Cleary
Jemima Garrett
Janine Burdeu
Wendy Page
Robin Sproule
Rolf de Heer
Molly Reynolds
Roslyn Simms
Robyn Ravlich
Wendy Borchers AM
Max Donnellan