Government response to the report on the Freedom of the Press
[Extract from response letter to President of the Senate]
Dear President
I am writing to convey the Government’s response to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee report on Freedom of the Press, which predates the 47th Parliament.
The Government notes each recommendation of the report. However, given the passage of time since the report was tabled, a substantive Government response is no longer appropriate.
I would also like to take this opportunity to outline some developments relevant to the Committee’s report and recommendations. The Attorney-General’s Department is currently progressing a comprehensive package of reforms to streamline, simplify and clarify the Commonwealth secrecy framework and improve protections for press freedom, while continuing to appropriately protect against unauthorised disclosures. The Government delivered a first stage of reforms to the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 in 2023, which made immediate improvements to the framework to support commencement of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and has announced it will introduce a second stage of reforms to Parliament to improve the accessibility, operation and administration of the framework.
Please accept this letter as the Government’s response to the Committee’s report. A copy of this letter has also been provided to Senator Sarah Hanson‑Young, Chair of the Environment and Communications References Committee.
Yours sincerely
[signature redacted]
Michelle Rowland MP