People forget, as they rarely do with Vietnam or China, that Laos is still a communist state with complete control over the press and civil society. Helen Clark reports
Helen Clark
Australia: Prime minister’s department cracks down on civil servant criticism
Under new guidelines, Australian civil servants working for the prime ministers’s office caught criticising the government can be sanctioned for illicit social media use, Helen Clark reports
Australia debates repeal of parts of racial discrimination act
Recent moves to repeal sections of Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act have sparked public debate and anger on both sides of the political divide, Helen Clark reports
Internet repression in Vietnam continues as 30-month prison sentence for blogger is upheld
The case of Le Quoc Quan is just the latest move in the Vietnamese authorities’ ongoing attack on dissent, free speech, free press and a free internet. Helen Clark reports
Australia’s “Auntie” pummelled over Indonesia coverage
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has been called unAustralian by prime minister Tony Abbott, who has also called for a review of its funding. Helen Clark reports
Radio prank expands Australia’s broadcasting authority remit
A radio prank that lead to tragic consequences may end up expanding Australia’s broadcast authority’s powers. Helen Clark reports
Inept or clever? Vietnam’s censors keep everyone guessing
Vietnam’s government keeps cultural activities from web comics to concerts under its watchful eye, for sex as much as sedition. Helen Clark reports
From Assange to Murdoch: Australia’s free speech landscape
As Australians go to the polls, how does their country shape up on free expression? Helen Clark reports
Vietnam’s dysfunctional relationship with the web
Decree 72, due to come into force September 1, has caused friction as it essentially prohibits people from posting links to news stories, or sections of news articles, on social media sites such as Facebook or the equally popular, locally produced Zing Me, Helen Clark writes