Barry Wakelin (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently many in the media have been concerned yet again about the parliament, freedom of speech and the right to know. Tonight I would like to put on the record another aspect from a parliamentary representative’s perspective. A couple of months ago the Adelaide Advertiser wrote a piece about MPs, including me, who were leaving the parliament at the end of their term and their participation in overseas delegations—the old perennial. I dared to offer an alternative view in the form of a letter to the editor of the Advertiser. The Advertiser declined to print that letter and I subsequently purchased advertising space on page 5 of the Advertiser to have my alternative view published. I was sold the space and I paid up front. Subsequently, on viewing my point of view, the Advertiser refused to publish it, even after accepting payment for the space, whilst at the same time offering to print my letter to the editor as a letter to the editor. So it seems that monopoly practices and freedom of speech are very much in the eye and mind of the beholder.

In conclusion, the power of the press is very much on display in this case with my right of reply, and the monopoly power of the Adelaide Advertiser is a simple fact. So the question remains: what is the reasonable balance and how can people’s representatives fight for that reasonable balance? I simply conclude by saying: it seems to me that there is a responsibility upon all parties, including those with monopoly power, to offer a fair go to maintain our standards in this country.