The Muslim Advisory Body
In August 2005 a Muslim advisory body was created, called the Muslim Community Reference Group. It falls under the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA), comprises 14 members, and exists to advise the Australian Government on issues regarding Islamic Australians.
News.com has reported that the advisers have been 'muzzled' (or 'gagged'). Reportedly DIMA has instructed the membership to turn down media enquiries or refer them to the chairman, Ameer Ali, or get the chairman's consent to speak to the media. Apparently the idea is that the views presented to the media have the agreement of the entire group. How does News.com know this? Well, they asked the members, and seven of them said so, speaking on condition of anonymity. Notwithstanding the humour of the media reporting that the group has told them that they are not supposed to talk to the media, is this news?
I don't think so. I work for the government. My position involves access to information which is covered by the Privacy Act. My department's policy is that I should not speak to the media, and that if I receive an enquiry from the media, I should refer them to my department's spokespeople. The reasons why I have been instructed not to speak to the media are different to the reasons for the instructions given to the members of the Muslim Community Reference Group not to speak to the media. What might those reasons be?
To me it seems likely that the government would prefer that members of the group who hold controversial or dissenting views not publicise them - especially given that, as events in recent months have shown, the publication of controversial views relating to Islamic issues can result in civil unrest, damage to property, or even loss of life. The group does not exist to expose the government's policies or actions that relate to Muslim Australians. It exists to advise the government. The members are no doubt free to speak their minds, including speaking to the media, within the boundaries of the law, but it is not unreasonable for the goverment to try to avoid media debacles, whether for political reasons or to avoid loss of innocent life.
News.com has reported that the advisers have been 'muzzled' (or 'gagged'). Reportedly DIMA has instructed the membership to turn down media enquiries or refer them to the chairman, Ameer Ali, or get the chairman's consent to speak to the media. Apparently the idea is that the views presented to the media have the agreement of the entire group. How does News.com know this? Well, they asked the members, and seven of them said so, speaking on condition of anonymity. Notwithstanding the humour of the media reporting that the group has told them that they are not supposed to talk to the media, is this news?
I don't think so. I work for the government. My position involves access to information which is covered by the Privacy Act. My department's policy is that I should not speak to the media, and that if I receive an enquiry from the media, I should refer them to my department's spokespeople. The reasons why I have been instructed not to speak to the media are different to the reasons for the instructions given to the members of the Muslim Community Reference Group not to speak to the media. What might those reasons be?
To me it seems likely that the government would prefer that members of the group who hold controversial or dissenting views not publicise them - especially given that, as events in recent months have shown, the publication of controversial views relating to Islamic issues can result in civil unrest, damage to property, or even loss of life. The group does not exist to expose the government's policies or actions that relate to Muslim Australians. It exists to advise the government. The members are no doubt free to speak their minds, including speaking to the media, within the boundaries of the law, but it is not unreasonable for the goverment to try to avoid media debacles, whether for political reasons or to avoid loss of innocent life.
posted by Hiraethin at 7:01 pm
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