Government Senator Laverne King has outlined what she described as a fundamental shift in how state-owned media and government information agencies will operate, distancing the current administration from what she characterized as years of political propaganda under the previous government.
Speaking on Tuesday, King addressed concerns surrounding the role and future of the Agency for Public Information (API), arguing that government communication had historically been misused to advance partisan interests rather than to inform the public objectively. According to the minister, state agencies were previously turned into “propaganda tools,” with political messaging deliberately woven into official reporting as a way of maintaining power.
She described this practice as an abuse of authority, contending that public institutions exist to serve citizens, not political parties. “They wrapped up their political and partisan ways into the agencies,” King said, adding that such behavior undermines trust and weakens democratic accountability.
King said the current administration is seeking to move away from that model, with a stated commitment to providing what she called “unadulterated” and “accurate” information to the public. She argued that honesty—even when the facts are uncomfortable—is essential to national development.
The minister rejected what she termed a “dolly house version” of governance, where negative realities are hidden or softened to avoid criticism. She maintained that failing to acknowledge problems prevents meaningful solutions from being developed. “It is only really acknowledging truth of the situation that allows us to work through the issues,” she said.
As part of this shift, King acknowledged that the API and other government information portfolios require restructuring and, in some cases, direct intervention. She said the goal is to ensure these agencies function as credible sources of information rather than public relations arms of the government.
To illustrate what she described as a new standard of openness, King pointed to her ministry’s decision to publish the Education Digest in full online. She noted that previous administrations typically emphasized headline figures such as overall pass rates, while omitting broader performance data. Under the current approach, the ministry has released comprehensive information on literacy and numeracy levels, allowing the public to see where students and schools are struggling.
King said exposing weaknesses is not an admission of failure but a necessary step toward reform. “If you don’t show where the system is failing, you can’t fix it,” she said.
When challenged on whether the government’s commitment to transparency might fade as the next general election approaches—particularly once negative data begins reflecting on the current administration—King pushed back firmly. She rejected suggestions that openness is politically convenient at this stage, insisting that the government is operating under a different philosophy of governance.
She acknowledged that the administration has been in office for just over seven weeks, asking for patience as reforms take shape. At the same time, she stressed that her personal background in media informs her insistence on journalistic integrity and accountability in government communication.
King said she remains committed to ensuring that the public receives accurate information, even when it is politically uncomfortable, arguing that credibility—not control—must guide the future of state-owned media.
