Northern Territory intervention Aboriginal oppositional voices ignored and censored by the media

The national media has played a pernicious role in the NT intervention, and its response to the first anniversary last month was no exception. Television networks dutifully regurgitated Rudd government concern about Aboriginal children and the print media published thousands of words claiming there was popular support for the retrogressive measures.

While the press could not ignore the June 21 anti-intervention protests, the coverage was hostile and perfunctory. In fact, there has never been serious reportage by the corporate media of the widespread opposition in Aboriginal communities to the government measures. The concerns of ordinary Aboriginal peopleespecially those who have been directly affectedare either ignored or censored, ensuring that most Australians have no idea what is really going on in the NT.