If ABC South East closed - one of the few media organisations in our region - it would be a terrible loss of jobs and experience. The impact of that loss would be felt right across the region and it is incredible a politician elected to support the South East would advocate for that.

Member for Monaro John Barilaro's attack on ABC South East appeared to stem from an interview the radio station cancelled just ahead of the budget announcement.

ABC South East said that was because the broadcaster was presented a face-to-face interview from another newsroom discussing the same matter with Mr Barilaro.

Whether or not the MP was justified in criticising the radio station for cancelling the interview is another issue.

The bigger problem the interview showed was the acting Premier of the state encouraging listeners to tune out, to no longer support the very program bringing them information.

Comments such as "hashtag turn off ABC South East" and how he would not leave politics while the independent broadcaster continued to operate, jar heavily.

In another example of this attitude towards the media from the political class, in February a video surfaced of Member for Bega Andrew Constance questioning a journalist over their credentials before Premier Gladys Berejiklian openly mocked them.

But it is not just politicians. Australia is now a place where police have rifled through the underwear of a journalist to search for evidence of alleged crimes after the publication of an embarrassing report.

Meanwhile, not only did the Australian Federal Police raid the ABC's Sydney headquarters earlier this year over reporting on the activities of Australian special forces soldiers in Afghanistan, but also wanted the fingerprints of the journalists involved.

It is highly disturbing the body that is supposed to keep people safe considered journalists providing information in the public's interest to be in the same category as criminals.

One of the fundamental roles of an independent media is to hold those in power to account. The aim is to do so with no bias nor favour. It's not always pretty, but it's essential for our audiences.