FREEDOM OF THE PRESS AND THE HACKED OFF DRAFT BILL

<p>That this House notes the draft bill proposed by the Hacked Off campaign; recognises that this would make press freedom vulnerable to the use of Ministerial orders under the provisions of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006; recognises further that sub clause 1 (3) of the draft billencourages interference by Ministers and other public officials in media activities for purposes defined as legitimate at that time; recognises further that sub clause 2 (2) gives the proposed Recognition Commission detailed control over the Standards Code; further recognises that Schedule 1 puts into statute the basis of the Standards Code thereby making it vulnerable to change by Ministerial order; believes that it is important that press freedom is maintained to ensure that the media can speak truth unto power; further believes that the draft bill proposed by the Hacked Off campaign would substantially undermine press freedom; and calls for any such or similar proposals to be rejected.</p>