Last week I went to a forum on freedom of the press (in Sydney, Oz). Some of the journalists present described how when they tried to write articles about the effects of detention of refugees, they were told by their editors that the topic was too gloomy, people don't want to read about that (they like reading restaurant reviews). Those who persist are told they are too subjective, or that they are acting as advocates for the refugees.

The same adjectives (too subjective, acting as advocates), were applied to decision makers within our bureaucracy when the government wanted cases rejected. Now that there is an election coming up, and their refugee policies are a bit on the nose with the electorate, those comments are no longer being made, and the bureaucracy is again approving.

its so easy to control people's views, when you can control the media and the bureaucracy.