Dropped Prosecutions: The Afghan Files, Public Interest Journalism
Australian Journalists, Dan Oakes and Sam Clark
by Binoy Kampmark
I
n July 2017, two journalists working for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Dan Oakes and Sam Clark, wrote of a stash of incriminating documents, running into hundreds of pages. They were “secret defence force documents leaked to the ABC”. These documents gave “an unprecedented insight into the clandestine operations in Australia’s elite special forces in Afghanistan, including incidents of troops killing unarmed men and children.”
Read more: Dropped Prosecutions: The Afghan Files, Public Interest Journalism
The Morrison government has introduced a dangerous new Bill to Parliament called Defence Legislation Amendment (Enhancement of Defence Force Response to Emergencies) Bill 2020. If passed, the Legislation will give authority to the Defence Minister to declare an “emergency” and call out Australian Defence Forces and police, including foreign troops and police, to deal with the undefined “emergency”. The Bill does not include any definition of what is an “emergency” or “other emergencies” and could be used to suppress people’s protests against economic austerity, unemployment, the climate crisis, and against imperialist wars. It could be used in industrial disputes against unions and workers taking industrial action for wages and conditions, for job security, economic livelihoods, for social justice and solidarity. The Bill allows the army and police, including foreign troops and police, to be exempt from civil and criminal liability. The parliamentary Labor Opposition is conspicuously silent.Upcoming Events
"WE SWEAR BY THE SOUTHERN CROSS TO STAND TRULY BY EACH OTHER AND FIGHT TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES."
FOR A JUST, SOVEREIGN AND DEMOCRATIC AUSTRALIA.
The Spirit of Eureka Committee was established in the lead up to the 150th anniversary of the Eureka Stockade in 2004, to give a strong and united voice to the current struggles of Australia’s working people.
The Spirit of Eureka draws on the continuity and relevance of this important event in the history of Australia to present day endeavours and struggles for justice, democracy and sovereignty.
The Eureka rebellion laid the foundations for Australia’s continuing social, industrial and political struggles. It was advanced for its time and represents an important fighting tradition that continues to inspire our fight today.
