A letter addressed to the AustralianPrime Minister Anthony Albanese from a overseas based Samoan Media has raised issues regarding Media Freedom. The letter from Sala Pulotu Canada Alofa McCarthy of CTV Media, New Zealand and Australia Inc raises issues relating to governance, media freedom and institutional accountability in Samoa and urges the Australian Prime Minister to raise these concerns with his Samoan Counterpart.
It is published in verbatim below as a Letter to the Editor.
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Australia
Dear Prime Minister Albanese
Re: Serious concerns about governance, media freedom and Australia’s relationship
with Samoa in the context of stability within the South Pacific Region as an important
cluster of the international community.
On behalf of thousands of Samoans in Australia, New Zealand and the international
diaspora, I write to express our deep concern about the conduct of Samoa’s Prime Minister,
La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, and the implications of his leadership for democracy, freedom of
expression and the relationship between Samoa. New Zealand and Australia as important
members of the South Pacific Region in the context of healthy economies, security and
diplomatic relations.
Landscape:
Although Samoa is a small economy, its location and relationships within the South Pacific
give development work there and aid funding by NZ and Australia significance beyond its
shores.
Political instability weakened democratic institutions and declining public confidence in the
rule of law can have consequences for regional cooperation, security and stability.
The South Pacific is an important region of the international community, and its healthy
functioning depends on strong, accountable institutions and mutual trust among its nations.
Australia and its regional partners therefore have a clear interest in engaging with Samoa to
support those principles and protect the stability of the region.
Media:
The exclusion of the Samoa Observer, a major independent newspaper, from the Prime
Minister’s and Cabinet ministers’ press conferences is appalling to say the least and is of
grave concern to us all. Samoa’s government also announced that ministers would no longer
respond to the newspaper’s requests for information. Whatever disagreement the Prime
Minister may have with its reporting, denying a major news outlet access to public officials is
a reckless and authoritarian response to scrutiny.
Samoans deserve clear, accurate and timely information from their government, yet the
exclusion of the Samoa Observer from ministerial press conferences and the refusal to
respond to its requests for information make it harder for the public to receive independent
scrutiny of government decisions. An honest and open government should welcome scrutiny,
answer difficult questions and ensure that all media outlets have fair access to information of
public importance.
Some media outlets such as us have been threatened with prosecution if we ever set foot in
Samoa for no other reason than asking questions of this wayward Prime Minister and his
government to ensure accountability.
Despite our internal and domestic efforts to flag our concerns with this government, it seems
to be falling on deaf ears, and we are now calling and appealing to our international partners
for assistance. The fear mongering and the scare and bullying tactics by this Prime Minister
are unbearable and its extremely hard to see such an authoritarian, unaccountable regime still
being supported financially by the taxpayers of Australia by way of aid funding and various
investments in training, inter alia, implemented in Samoa by Australia.
The Samoan PM may present a reassuring image to visiting international dignitaries,
including Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong, yet that image is difficult to
reconcile with the treatment of independent journalists at home. A government that welcomes
favourable coverage while excluding an outlet that asks difficult questions is failing in its
duty to the public as you are aware.
These actions raise serious questions about freedom of speech, equal treatment and the
protections afforded by the Samoa’s Constitution as well as expectations of the United
Nations (UN). They also send a disturbing message to Samoans who may already feel afraid
to speak openly. Democracy cannot function properly when citizens and journalists fear the
consequences of questioning those in power.
Agencies Operational Independence:
There are also serious concerns about the independence of Samoa’s institutions. Many
Samoans, both at home and in the diaspora, have expressed concern that the police may be
subject to political interference in operational and prosecutorial matters. Australia’s
substantial support for police training and related activities makes it essential to ask what
safeguards are in place to ensure Australian assistance supports impartial policing.
We invite your office to read recent public reporting of the Samoan Public Service
Commission’s recommendation of a NZ Police officer to be the next Samoa Police
Commissioner to be publicly criticised by the Samoan Prime Minister opting for a local. This
is even after the recommendation went through a proper governmental transparent process.
Go figure Mr Albanese! Mind boggling at the very least!
The Attorney-General’s role has likewise attracted concern, particularly been appointed from
La’auli’s private criminal lawyer to Attorney General and her subsequent decision in relation
to decisions involving criminal proceedings concerning the Prime Minister. The decision not
to appeal in one such case was challenged in court, and that challenge was dismissed. Either
way the perception is not good, and we all know that caution requires perception to be treated
as actuality. Public confidence requires transparency about potential conflicts of interest and
assurance that prosecutorial decisions are made independently.
Australia and New Zealand are influential partners in the Pacific and regularly speak about
democracy, open justice and the rule of law. Those commitments should mean something
when a close neighbour’s independent media is shut out of government scrutiny. Respect for
Samoa’s sovereignty should not become an excuse for silence when fundamental democratic
values are under pressure.
I therefore urge your government to:
1. Raise the exclusion of the Samoa Observer directly with Prime Minister La’auli and call
for its access to government press conferences to be restored.
2. Seek clear assurances that Australian-supported policing activities are protected from
political interference.
3. Review Australian funding and assistance to Samoa, including police support, with
particular attention to transparency, accountability and human rights.
4. Consider suspending or redirecting funding where adequate safeguards cannot be
demonstrated, while taking care to protect essential services and ordinary Samoan
people.
5. Explain publicly what steps Australia is taking to support independent journalism and
democratic institutions in Samoa.
We are also investigating how to submit a formal proposal to your government seeking the
suspension of funding to Samoa. Australian taxpayers deserve confidence that their money is
not strengthening institutions that may be used to shield those in power from scrutiny.
Prime Minister, these concerns deserve more than polite diplomatic language. I ask you to
respond with a clear account of what your government will do to uphold the democratic
values Australia says it supports throughout the Pacific.
Sincerely yours,
Sala Pulotu Canada Alofa McCarthy
CTV Media
New Zealand and Australia Inc