Canada Shuts Down Australia Today’s Social Media: Here’s Why

The Australia Today, a well-known diaspora publication, expressed its concern on Friday after Canada restricted its social media pages and handles after a news conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was broadcast.

The Australia Today’s managing editor, Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj declared in a statement that the journal would keep pushing for an open media.

“We at The Australia Today would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to every news outlet, journalist, and supporter who stood by us during a challenging time. The recent restriction and ban on our interview with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on social media, under orders from the Canadian government, have been difficult for our team and those who value free and open journalism,” the statement read.

From November 3 to 7, Jaishankar traveled to Australia as part of the 15th Foreign Ministers Framework Dialogue. During this tour, he spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong before opening an Embassy in Brisbane.

Jaishankar voiced worries during Tuesday’s joint press conference over India’s ongoing diplomatic dispute with Canada over Canada’s claims that Indian government officials were involved in the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Also in the joint press conference, Wong stated that Australia has expressed its concerns to India on the Nijjar issue and that it respects Canada’s legal system.

Jaishankar was interviewed and his visit to Australia was covered by Australia Today, a media outlet founded by an Indian diaspora member in Australia. In the early 2000s, founder-editor Jitarth Jai Bharadwaj was a journalist in India.

The block came hours after the organization carried the joint press conference of EAM Jaishankar with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong. The North American nation took action against Australia Today in response to Jaishankar’s statements criticizing the spying of Indian diplomats and pointing out that Canada’s accusations lacked proof.

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