Why
Until now, Australians speaking truth to power have had to stand alone. Each of them has had to learn how to navigate complicated laws and bureaucracies, remain resilient when their reports are dismissed by law enforcement agencies and defend legal and other attacks. Most have incurred great personal and financial harm and many have been refused the most fundamental of human rights, the right to speak their truth.
Public Arrow is a publicly funded Not-For-Profit that stands with those who speak truth to power and pursues justice when law enforcement agencies lack authority or will.
Why now
Democracy relies on the existence of independent and effective law enforcement agencies, including police, public servants, regulators, anti-corruption commissions, the judiciary and parliament.
Over recent years, politicians have increasingly attacked our law enforcement agencies via funding cuts, the appointment of biased characters, curbed powers and judiciary interference. Politicians are dismantling our democracy and exploiting its weaknesses to silence and persecute those who speak truth to power and to benefit themselves and their corporate donors at the expense of human and environmental rights.
Elections enable voters to remove politicians from office but rely on public awareness and do not repair harm caused, repatriate ill-gotten wealth, hold those that have abused power to legal account nor remove weaknesses from law enforcement agencies.
In addition, abuse of power is too often technically legal and out of reach of law enforcement agencies, including anti-corruption commissions. Public Arrow doesn’t limit its focus to illegality. Public Arrow combats abuse of power.
We're at the tipping point. We must unite now to restore our democracy and install a permanent mechanism, independent of government, to continue holding those in power to account.
How
Public Arrow uses funds raised to stand with those who speak truth to power and pursue justice when law enforcement agencies lack authority or will.
Standing with those who speak truth to power
We provide support, experience and expertise to facilitate:
Speaking truth
Understanding laws
Navigating law enforcement agencies
Accessing protections
Defending legal and other attacks.
Legal Action
Sometimes, defending attacks is not enough. When law enforcement agencies lack authority or will, it is necessary to proactively pursue separate legal action.
In those circumstances, Public Arrow brings the fight to the front doors of power.