The Immigration Department now has the power to impose new restrictions on TV networks showing pictures and videos of asylum seekers arriving by boat. Blind Freddy knows why they are doing this - because it reminds us of the incompetence of a government who has no idea how to fix the problem.
To pretend it’s not happening is a very bad idea, reminiscent of Putin’s control over the Russian media – the people only get to see what he wants them to see.
Last week the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) thrashed out a way to stop the media from showing us what is really going on and their reason is laughable - it’s to protect the asylum seekers’ privacy. Give me a break.
Peter Meakin, Seven Network’s head of news said “A blanket ban is just the big hand of censorship.” But Mr Meakin will have to toe the line because the ACMA oversees the licences of TV networks and they have the clout to punish if they don’t behave.
This is not the Immigration department's first attempt at censoring the media. Ever wondered why we never get to see inside a detention centre? Strange isn't it, why all the secrecy? Earlier this year they said that cameras were allowed inside only on the condition that all images were handed over to them for vetting before publication.
If the government thinks for one moment that this censorship will help people to forget about their continued incompetence in handling this issue, they are sadly mistaken.
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