FOTP 2013 Full Report

equesting that journalists be granted greater access to detainees. The department had notresponded to the council’s request by year’s end. Attacks and physical harassment targetingjournalists are rare, and no cases were reported in 2012.While most media are privately owned, ownership is highly concentrated, with the printmedia dominated by the Fairfax Group and News Corporation. In 2012, the BroadcastingServices Amendment (Public Interest Test) Bill was proposed as a means of limiting futureownership concentration. If passed, the legislation would allow ACMA to assess mergers ofmedia companies to ensure that they would not diminish the “diversity of unique ownersproviding general content services.” Australia also has a strong tradition of public broadcasting.The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), although state owned and entirely funded bythe government, remains editorially independent.In 2012, the internet was accessed by almost 82 percent of the population. Internet accessis affordable for most Australians, and the government subsidizes satellite telephones andinternet connections in rural areas.AustriaStatus: FreeLegal Environment: 8Political Environment: 8Economic Environment: 5Total Score: 21Survey Edition 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Total Score, Status 21,F 21,F 21,F 21,F 21,FThe federal constitution and the Media Law of 1981 provide the basis for free media in Austria.Many press freedom advocates urge the Austrian government to revise its stringent civil andcriminal libel laws, which serve to protect politicians and government officials. In 2010, thegovernment passed a Terrorism Prevention Law that penalized the preparation and organizationof terrorist acts as well as training for terrorist purposes. Critics argued that the law impinges onfreedom of expression by stipulating that individuals who incite hatred or contempt against anygroup will face up to two years in prison.A contentious amendment to the Security Police Act, which enables state authorities tomonitor, wiretap, film, and locate individuals, was passed by the upper house of parliament inFebruary 2012. Press freedom advocates argued that the new law could deter journalistic workand intimidate investigative reporters. An amendment to the code of criminal procedure thatwould have undermined the protection of journalistic sources was blocked in March. However, amuch-debated data retention law took effect in April. Based on a European Union directive, thelaw requires telecommunications companies and internet service providers to store user data forup to six months. Due to numerous constitutional complaints at the end of the year, the AustrianConstitutional Court decided to ask for the opinion of the European Court of Justice.There is no official censorship, although any form of Nazi propaganda or anti-Semitismis prohibited by law. The controversial case of Ed Moschitz, a journalist working for theAustrian Public Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), continued throughout the year. Moschitz was74