What We Do

1. (Image: IMG20250606104547.jpg)

Q. How does your insurance protection work?
With nearly 32,000 members in Qld and almost 20,000 in NSW and experienced teacher numbers, we see very infrequent claims for or from the experienced.
Handling this fear is the key. The untrained pose a different risk profile.

Employee members are going to be indemnified by their employer.
Part of our service is to make sure that their employer doesn’t walk away from their responsibilities.
The growing number of self-employed members up to now have been on their own and vulnerable to defamation, silencing strategies.

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Q.
The whole point of free speech is just that. It is not just for the precious wealthy people who can afford to play "law fare" against honest scribblers but poor journos.

But in creating the 4th estate we also called the government accountable against revelations of the truth.
The nobles and the clergy, the bourgeois (the parliament!) have been replaced by the elites, largely in academia and the bureaucracy.

The politicians are simply the voice of the AJA.
i.e. conceptually the primary role of the AJA is to protect your expression of the truth in their enduring mismanagement.

3. (Image: IMG20250606104605 (1).jpg)

Q.
It is not really an insurable risk that any insurer could underwrite easily. The cost of handling claims would be prohibitive.

So we have done something different!
The Red Union group have an agreement (and members) against mechanisms that can easily handle hurt voices that well arise.

“Defamation” is a lot trickier. Of course you don’t need actual defamation, slander or libel.
Likelihood of accidental defamation means the defence costs is exponentially if someone else is picking up the defence costs.

The Red Union founder Graeme Haycroft and Red Union Health founder Heath Goddard both executive board members and the driving force behind the AJA’s defence of free speech have put up $1 million in indemnity defences against AJA members.

4. (Image: IMG20250606104617.jpg)

(Unlabeled follow-on from previous content)

The Red Union founder Graeme Haycroft and Red Union Health founder Heath Goddard both executive board members and the driving force behind the AJA’s defence of free speech have put up $1 million in indemnity defences against AJA members.

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Protecting independent journalists and content creators

The Australian Journalists Association (AJA) is a professional membership
organization dedicated to supporting self-employed journalists, content
creators, bloggers, and vloggers. We provide a framework for independent
media professionals to protect themselves legally, access industry-leading
education, and ensure their work is sustainable.

AJA champions journalistic endeavour, ensuring an alternative to mainstream media representation while upholding journalistic integrity and freedom.

Why Join AJA?
The AJA is committed to:

- Legal Protection: Defend against defamation claims and ensure journalistic
freedom.

- Insurance Coverage: Secure professional indemnity and public liability
insurance for financial and legal protection.

- Industry Support: Access professional courses on responsible reporting,
media law, and risk management.

- Community & Advocacy: Join a growing network of professionals fighting for journalistic integrity.

- Work & Growth Opportunities: Use AJA’s Job & Project Board to find work and
pitch projects to media companies.

AJA Policy on Defamation, Hate Speech, and the Role of Trustees
Defamation and Free Speech

The primary role of a journalist is to report what has happened, is happening,
or is proposed to happen—which requires commitment to the truth.

AJA is opposed to any laws or practices that hamper the ability to truthfully
report or express reasonable opinion.
Two primary legal threats to free and truthful journalism are:

1. Defamation Laws: While improved, Australia's defamation laws remain
restrictive. Unlike the U.S., Australia’s defamation process is often
used as a punishment against journalists. AJA actively defends members
facing such lawsuits.

2. Hate Speech Laws: Introduced by the ALP and supported by the LNP, these
laws criminalise speech and create protected classes that suppress that impinge on free speech.

The Changing Media Landscape

The future of journalism will rely on independent media where journalists are
predominantly self-employed contractors.

AJA advocates for contractors: rights to control their earnings, ensuring they
are not forced into politically-aligned superannuation funds and financial
restrictions.

AJA’s Core Philosophy

The AJA is opposed to initiatives that undermine merit-based success.

We stand for:
- Merit-based journalism: Recognition should be earned through skill and
excellence.
- Common sense reporting: Our members value truth over ideology.

- Audience demand for truth should be reflected by AJA members.

Role of the Trustees

AJA members initially subscribe to Local Action Australia Pty Ltd, operating under Business Union Support Hub (BUSH),
backed by Red Union Support Hub (RUSH).

This structure ensures:
- Legal and financial security through the Red Union Mutual.
- Underwriting protection for AJA members.
- Membership fees allocated across AJA operations and legal defense funds.

Insurance & Legal Protection

AJA members are covered for up to $1 million in Professional Indemnity
insurance.

Most claims will involve defamation defense and hate speech violations,
assessed by the AJA Board and Trustees.

Membership &

Subscription Plans
AJA offers flexible membership plans:
- Weekly Plan: $X per week
- Monthly Plan: $X per month
- Annual Plan: $X per year (discounted rate)

Join AJA Today!

AJA is the only professional body devoted to defending independent journalists and content creators from political, legal, and ideological suppression.

Sign up now to gain access to:
✅ Legal protection
✅ Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
✅ Training courses
✅ Jobs and Project Board