Australian papers redact front pages in protest

Australia's biggest newspapers ran front pages on Monday (October 21) made up to appear heavily redacted.

It was a protest against laws that restrict press freedoms - and a rare show of unity by the media industry.

Australia has no constitutional safeguards for free speech.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison sought to re-assure lawmakers the government wanted a free press.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, SCOTT MORRISON, SAYING:

"We have taken the steps to add additional defences into our laws to ensure that journalists, Mr. Speaker, can get about their tasks."

Mastheads from the domestic unit of Rupert Murdoch's conservative News Corp and fierce rivals at Nine Entertainment ran front pages with blacked out words.

The protest aimed to put public pressure on the government to exempt journalists from laws limiting access to sensitive information.

The industry's also calling for a properly functioning freedom of information system.