MEAA urges Nauru to issue ABC with visa

MEAA condemns the decision of the Nauruan Government to refuse to issue a visa to Australian Broadcasting Corporation staff to report on the Pacific Islands Forum in September.

MEAA Media section president Marcus Strom said: “Politicians, wherever they are, must accept the role of the media to report and scrutinise those in power. The Forum is a crucial gathering. It comes at a very important time. It is important that its deliberations and discussions are widely reported to the people who live in the region.

“As MEAA has said before, when Clive Palmer sought to exclude a journalist from The Australian, politicians can’t be allowed to pick and choose who can attend their press conferences. It’s one in, all in”, Strom said.

“Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he ‘regrets’ the ABC is being barred from reporting on the Forum but that ultimately it is a matter for the government of Nauru.

“That is simply not good enough.

“This is an attack on press freedom that our government needs to condemn in the strongest possible terms. Recognising the sovereignty of another nation does not extend to accepting they have the right to prevent free and open reporting.”