Making sure that one remnant of the Howard era, NGO gag orders, never surfaces again

Introduced into the Australian Senate on 13 March 2013:

A Bill for an Act to prohibit Commonwealth agreements from restricting or preventing not-for-profit entities from commenting on, advocating support for or opposing changes to Commonwealth law, policy or practice, and for related purposes.

The Bill engages and promotes the right of freedom of expression as set out in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Right (ICCPR). The Bill will prevent the Commonwealth from including clauses in agreements that prevent or restrict NFP entities from advocating on Commonwealth policy issues.

Take a look at the News Media (Self regulation) Bill 2013 for yourself

The Daily Telegraph 13 March 2013

 

With various minions within Rupert Murdoch's media empire screamimg about this bill in the most lurid terms, perhaps it's time for ordinary citizens to look at these bills and make up their own minds.

 

The News Media (Self-regulation) Bill 2013 and the News Media (Self-regulation) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2013 together with the Public Interest Media Advocate Bill 2013, the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Convergence Review and Other Measures) Bill 2013, the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (News Media Diversity) Bill 2013 and the Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2013 form a package of measures representing the Australian Government's response to two independent media reviews conducted in 2011 and 2012 - the Convergence Review and the Independent Inquiry into the Media and Media Regulation. [Explanatory Memorandum]

 

Download the Bill here and the Consequential Amendments here.