Bitter Words Over Censorship Inquiry

Northern Advocate, 14 September 1944, Page 3

Bitter Words Over Censorship Inquiry

(Rec. 1 p.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. Amid Parliamentary uproar, Mr Abbott (Opposition), said that Nazi methods were being used in the Australian communications censorship and in compiling dossiers on citizens. Mr Abbott was moving that the reports of the recent judicial inquiries into censorship by Sir William Webb and Mr Justice Clyne be printed. The debate was the noisiest of the present session. The motion l'or the printing of the reports was talked out. Mr Abbott said that Sir William Webb s report that there had been no snooping by internal mail and telephone censors was unsatisfactory The Government should order a fresh investigation, either by a Parliamentary committee or by a Royal Commission under a Justice of the High Court.

Mr Curtin answered that he had no intention oi’ ordering a new censorship enquiry. He said that a member of the Parliamentary Censorship Committee had released to the Press a copy of a secret War Cabinet document.

Mr Abbott: I neither deny nor affirm that I gave the information to newspapers.

Mr Curtin: I think it would be a good thing if, although you have been a Cabinet Minister you should never hold Cabinet rank again. Mr Abbott: If the price of being a Cabinet Minister is to sacrifice the liberty of the individual and freedom, of the Australian people. I am willing to forego Cabinet rank. The debate lapsed.