The AAPP firmly believes in the vital role that whistleblowers and press freedom play in our democracy.
In the lead up to the most important election of our times for many reasons, the AAPP wrote to the major parties, several minor parties and independent candidates seeking their commitment to the following positions:
- To support a strong federal Independent Commission Against Corruption, eg, the model put forward by the Centre for Public Integrity, and refer the matter of the ASIS bugging of the Timor-Leste government offices and the prosecutions of Bernard Collaery and ‘Witness K’ to that ICAC;
- To support the withdrawal of the prosecutions of Bernard Collaery, David McBride & Richard Boyle and support a pardon for ‘Witness K’;
- To support legislation to fully protect future whistleblowers as recommended by the Human Rights Law Centre, and legislation to protect press freedom; and
- To join the Parliamentary support group for Julian Assange and to lobby the UK and US governments to free Julian Assange.
To assist voters to interrogate the policies of parties and candidates relating to these issues, we have summarised the responses received as follows:
| Candidates & parties who have committed to all policy positions | Candidates & parties who have partially committed to the policy positions |
| Caz Heise, Independent Candidate for Cowper Despi O’Connor Independent Candidate for Flinders Hannabeth Luke Independent Candidate for Page Nicolette Boele Independent Candidate for Bradfield Rex Patrick Senate Candidate for South Australia Bill Lodwick ALP Candidate for Nicholls Gilbert Wilson ALP Candidate for Wannon Tania Lawrence ALP Candidate for Hasluck The Australian Greens Socialist Alliance Australian Progressives Reason Australia | Kate Chaney Independent Candidate for Curtin Helen Haines Independent Candidate for Indi Kim Rubenstein Independent Candidate for the ACT Senate Kylea Tink Independent Candidate for North Sydney Dr Sophie Scamps Independent Candidate for Mackellar Allegra Spender Independent Candidate for Wentworth Clair Ferris Miles Independent Candidate for Casey Marion Scrymgour ALP Candidate for Lingiari TNL Australian Federation Party |
Unfortunately, the AAPP did not receive responses from most parties and independent candidates who we wrote to. We note that the Labor Party has made a commitment to implement a strong ICAC.
We recognise that many parties and candidates are inundated with emails at this time. Due to this, we recommend that voters continue to do their own research as to where parties and candidates stand on these issues because the results of our email campaign are far from conclusive.
All the best to our supporters who are voting on Saturday. Here’s hoping whoever forms the next government commits to strengthening democracy by implementing a strong ICAC, protecting press freedom and whistleblowers.