My magazine included some mild criticism of the media in Australia, with one organisation controlling 70 per cent of the print market and, in several capital cities, having a monopoly of the press. I also answered some of the criticism I've received in those newspapers for my views supporting Australian ownership and local businesses. Now of course, no one has to agree with me and, as a public figure, I accept that I am going to cop some criticism. That's fine. What I didn't expect was that I would be prevented from expressing my views. I printed 2 million copies of the magazine. Both Fairfax and the Kerry Stokes-owned West Australian agreed to run it without any changes. They gladly took my money. I was quite amazed when the chief executive of the Murdoch press in Australia, Kim Williams, made it clear he would not run the publication as a paid insert in their newspapers. Later, the Murdoch press stated it wouldn't run anything that questions its organisation or management. I was told that if I wanted to run the magazine in the Murdoch-owned media, I'd have to drop any hint of criticism. Given I had no choice if I wanted it read in Adelaide, Brisbane and Hobart (where the Murdoch press has a print monopoly), I gave in and reprinted 1.4 million copies of a new version, now titled Dick Smith's Magazine of Aussie Grown Foods and Other Interesting Ideas, where any mention of the Murdoch press was censored out (at a total cost of more than $200,000).

I suppose this shouldn't come as a surprise when the prime function of the Murdoch press is to send never-ending perpetual increases in profits to the US. Allowing anyone to criticise this within its publications clearly isn't going to help sell more newspapers or encourage advertisers. That makes business sense. What came as a shock, however, was that the rest of the media in Australia ignored what I believe was a clear sign of media censorship. I sent a letter to more than 150 print-media journalists, and to Leigh Sales at the ABC's 7.30 and Jonathan Holmes at Media Watch. My letter was also sent to every federal minister and shadow minister, saying that the Murdoch press had censored my views and refused to run the insert even though I was prepared to pay for it. Given that Kim Williams has recently been giving public speeches on the importance of a free and fearless press, I thought others would see the irony of an organisation that can dish out criticism but is sensitive about receiving it. I was wrong. Until this article, there has not been any substantial coverage on the points that I had raised in my magazine, in the mainstream press or on the ABC. They are always calling me for comment on one matter or another, but when it comes to examining their own industry, they seem strangely reluctant to ''rock the boat''. Of course, they are happy to raise a ruckus about Alan Jones, and the ABC even went as far as asking John Laws on to 7.30 to stir the pot.

But when it comes to questioning the Murdoch press, which dominates the print media in Australia, they are clearly not game. One ABC journalist said to me: ''Dick, I couldn't mention that your magazine was rejected by the Murdoch press because one day I might have to apply for a job with them.'' As it now stands, the readers of the 1.4 million copies that were reprinted for the Murdoch press would have no idea their version has been heavily censored. Rupert Murdoch is an incredibly powerful businessman and I admire him for this. He was recently in Australia and I sent out a media release to 600 media organisations requesting they support my call for him to appear on Q&A or The Bolt Report to explain what his vision for Australia is - considering his immense influence. There was not one line of coverage of my media release and call to Mr Murdoch. I know Mr Murdoch had closed-door meetings with the federal Opposition Leader and, most likely, our Prime Minister, but I haven't seen that reported anywhere. He had time for the grand final in Melbourne and to hand out awards to his journalists, but no time to explain to typical Australians (from whom he makes a fortune) just what his views are on all the important issues that affect us. I think that's a great pity. We need an open press in Australia, and that means journalists being brave enough to expose hypocrisy and censorship wherever it occurs - even if it is by powerful organisations.