(Image: NT Independent)

A feature of totalitarian regimes is that they ban independent media from access to government information.

Political leaders who announce they don’t “recognise” a news publication as “an independent or reputable media outlet”, and cut off that outlet from government information, usually have names like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping or Viktor Orbán. 

Now there’s a new name to add to that list — the recently appointed NT chief minister Natasha Fyles, a Labor Party member. She has backed the ongoing, two-year ban on the award-winning website NT Independent, excluding the Indie from government press conferences and communications on the basis it is illegitimate and biased.

Crikey knows a bit about such unconscionable and punitive actions, having once been banned by then federal treasurer Peter Costello from the 2006 budget lock-up. It also knows, to echo the words of NT Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, that Australian governments should not be in the business of suppressing press freedom.

Anyone who cares about the pivotal role of journalism in a democracy should feel a chill down their spine when they hear about an Australian political leader banning media access.

As a vigorously independent media entity, we at Crikey are gobsmacked that any Australian government could impose such a ban or make such undemocratic comments.

We call on the new NT minister to protect democracy and end the ban.