AJF & HRLC to appear before High Court on whistleblowing case with press freedom implications

The Human Rights Law Centre and the Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom have applied to participate in an important High Court case as a friend of the court, to raise public interest concerns relating to whistleblowing and press freedom.

The Albanese government has introduced a bill that, if passed, would significantly reform Australia’s deep culture of secrecy and improve the ability of journalists to report on the inner workings of government.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has documented arrests, censorship, and intimidation of journalists reporting on the conflict across the Middle East. Reporters have been detained, newsrooms pressured, and internet shutdowns used to restrict the flow of information. Press freedom is essential during conflict. When journalists are silenced, independent reporting disappears - making it harder to verify events, document abuses, and hold governments accountable.