Back to the future: a new D-Notice system?

Relations between successive governments and the media over national security reporting are, by definition, fractious. The tension is arguably necessary for a healthy democracy. It is therefore unsurprising that there have been multiple attempts to soothe the media and government relationship around national security reporting with a voluntary D-Notice system. In the wake of the Chinese Embassy bugging scandal by the Australian intelligence services in the 1990s, former Prime Minister Paul Keating is said to have proposed a renewed D-Notice system to the media.  

They were a secret but voluntary arrangement between the government and the media introduced in 1952 to increase control of how media covered national security issues – such as nuclear testing, the whereabouts of Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov, and reporting about the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). They petered out by the early 1980s.

In response to reporting on Operation Neath, a counter-terrorism story broken by Cameron Stewart reporting for The Australian in 2009, former Attorney-General Robert McClelland attempted to broker a deal between the media and law enforcement agencies around national security reporting. After the AFP raids on journalists from News Limited and the ABC in 2019, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in its review of press freedom raised the need for more cooperation and trust between government and the media on national security. The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor briefly canvassed suggested options for cooperation in his review of secrecy offences but noted that there were low levels of trust between the media and government.

D-Notices surfaced again in 2023 when the Age and Sydney Morning Herald reported that Mike Pezzullo, the former Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, had advocated for their return in secret text messages. Now, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) has reignited discussion with a reimagined D-Notice committee. Rebecca Ananian-Welsh, writing for ASPI, argues for a 'structured space for dialogue between government and media.' Henry Campbell and John Coyne floated a 'unique Australian alternative' to the UK’s Defence Security Media Advisory system.

In the CMT’s Double Take podcast this week, we talk to Cameron Stewart, Chief International Correspondent at The Australian newspaper, and one of Australia’s most respected and experienced national security journalists, about what it’s like reporting on matters of national security in Australia and whether a reimagined D-Notice system could build trust between the media and government.

You can listen to the latest episode of Double Take ‘Reporting on National Security: D-Notices or Not?’ on our streaming platforms below.

Spotify

Apple