Honiara, Solomon Islands-– The Pacific Freedom Forum strongly condemns the unacceptable actions of Australian officials who deliberately blocked Pacific journalists from attending Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s press conference in Honiara on Tuesday.
“This ‘shameful’ act represents a direct assault on press freedom and democratic principles within our own Pacific region,” Robert Iroga, chair of PFF from Solomon Islands, said.
Iroga said Australia cannot have it both ways.
“You cannot claim to be part of the Pacific family while silencing Pacific voices. You cannot talk about partnership while blocking our journalists from doing their jobs. This cannot happen in our own region, at our own forum,” he stated.
“Australia cannot claim to be a Pacific partner while simultaneously silencing Pacific voices at a Pacific Islands Forum venue. The decision to restrict media access exclusively to Australian outlets while excluding regional journalists demonstrates a troubling disregard for transparency and democratic accountability, ‘ he said.
Australian officials on Tuesday blocked Pacific journalists from attending Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s press conference in Honiara. Only Australian media were allowed in.
“Pacific journalists had every right to be there. This was a Pacific Islands Forum event in a Pacific country, yet Pacific media were shut out. This is not how partners behave,” he added.
When journalists asked why Pacific media were excluded, Mr. Albanese said he had “no idea” what they were talking about. His own officials made this decision.
Leilani Reklai from Palau, co-chair of PFF, who is also in Honiara to cover the PIF, said she didn’t expect such action by Prime Minister Albanese.
“I was quite shocked as I did not expect this at all from Australia,” Reklai said
“When Pacific journalists cannot cover Pacific stories, our people suffer. Democracy depends on a free press,” Reklai added.
PFF calls on the Australian government to provide a public acknowledgment and apology from Prime Minister Albanese, clarify who authorized this exclusion, and provide the reasoning behind this decision.
PFF also urges Pacific leaders, specifically the Australian government, to commit to ensuring such incidents do not occur in the future and guarantee full and equal media access for Pacific journalists at all future Australian official events in the Pacific region.