Media Influence, Privacy and Secrecy Q&A : Season 9 Episode 39

GOVERNMENT DIVIDED JACK BRESNAHAN asked: With the news this afternoon that the solicitor general has resigned because of the “broken relationship” with the Attorney General George Brandis, and the long running feud between Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull culminating in a show down over gun import restrictions last week and Liberal party reform, is this further evidence that the Liberal party, and in particular the conservative factions, are struggling to unite under a moderate leader, or is tension like this simply business as usual for political parties? POLITICS & INFLUENCE OF MEDIA DYLAN SUMMERELL asked: In the 2013 election, we saw headlines and front pages saying how much Australia needed Tony Abbott. In the recent election we saw newspapers positioning Turnbull as “our hero” and in the Gillard years I remember articles supporting the 'Ditch the Witch'. Do you believe that Australian media is playing too big of a role in our elections? “DEPLORABLES” OR VOTERS STEVEN WENG asked: It is easy to condemn the words and actions of Trump, Farrage or even Pauline Hanson, but much harder to actually confront the democratic processes that put them there - without calling their supporters ignorant, racists, or to use the contemporary term, "deplorables". How do the major parties seek to engage voters who are clearly alienated by their mainstream representatives? JOURNALISTIC CONFIDENTIALITY GERALDINE WATERS asked: Who defines public interest when it comes to the private lives of politicians? How can journalists gain trust if they can’t guarantee confidentiality. What then happens to the truth? NAURU SECRECY KELLY HORAN asked:Teachers working in offshore detention facilities can face up to two years in prison if they speak out against the conditions in detention centres or provide information to journalists. Likewise, media access to offshore facilities is largely prevented. Despite these constraints, Four Corners went ahead with its program last week and has now been criticised for not telling the true story. In making access to detention centres and their staff so difficult, are we basically telling Australia's free press not to report on what is going on?