--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most effective check and balance on…" description: "\"The most effective check and balance on government has been an independent press which maintains its credibility by ensuring that its criticism is bala..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/malcolm-turnbull-8650_balance_the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on_1393497.jpg" --- # The most effective check and balance on government has… ![“The most effective check and balance on government has been an independent press which maintains its credibility by ensuring that its criticism is balanced and based on fact - based indeed on solid journalistic work.” quote by Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/malcolm-turnbull-8650_balance_the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on_1393497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/malcolm-turnbull-8650_balance_the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on_1393497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/malcolm-turnbull-8650_balance_the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on_1393497.jpg) > “The most effective check and balance on government has been an independent press which maintains its credibility by ensuring that its criticism is balanced and based on fact - based indeed on solid journalistic work.” [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An independent, fact‑based press serves as the primary check on governmental power. **In simple terms:** Free press balances government. Key Takeaway Support credible journalism. Themes democracy press freedom accountability Mood serious concerned Type political informative When to use this quote - newsrooms - fact‑checking - public policy debates Key Concepts journalism political science media ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure media impartiality? - What safeguards protect press independence? A Different Perspective Press bias can erode trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Journalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journalism/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [I have long been a supporter of a free and independent press and I always will be. But with freedom comes responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/i-have-long-been-a-supporter-of-a-free-and-independent-press-and-i/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [A free and truly independent press - fiercely independent when necessary - is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/a-free-and-truly-independent-press-fiercely-independent-when/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Newspapers, television networks, and magazines have sometimes been outrageously abusive, untruthful, arrogant, and hypocritical. But it hardly follows that elimination of a strong and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/potter-stewart/newspapers-television-networks-and-magazines-have-sometimes-been/) [Potter Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/potter-stewart/) > [Our democracy depends on a free and independent press. When politicians call reporting they don't like 'fake news,' they undermine trust in our civic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-smith/our-democracy-depends-on-a-free-and-independent-press-when/) [Tina Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-smith/) > [“James was the first great fighter for an independent press in America, and he was the most important journalistic influence on his younger brother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/james-was-the-first-great-fighter-for-an-independent-press-in-america/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [As Americans, we rightfully place tremendous value on having a free and independent press. Our role as journalists is to give voice to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-holt/as-americans-we-rightfully-place-tremendous-value-on-having-a-free/) [Lester Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-holt/) > [My British publisher has this independent press. It's pretty small; they actually won last year. And she's got this great energy, and she's fiercely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-beatty/my-british-publisher-has-this-independent-press-it-s-pretty-small/) [Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-beatty/) > [Once upon a time, an editor could try out one or two wacky books, knowing full well that their list would counterbalance any risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-latimer/once-upon-a-time-an-editor-could-try-out-one-or-two-wacky-books/) [Andrew Latimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-latimer/) > [“The ability of a free and independent press to hold political leaders accountable is what makes open government possible—it is the heartbeat of democracy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-k-albright/the-ability-of-a-free-and-independent-press-to-hold-political-leaders/) Madeleine K. Albright > [To get out of desperate situation can only be done by education and by openness for Indonesians. Everybody who can, should be participating in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/to-get-out-of-desperate-situation-can-only-be-done-by-education-and/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [It is almost superfluous to say that there is no such thing as a free and independent press among the mainstream news media today.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-baldwin/it-is-almost-superfluous-to-say-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-free/) [Chuck Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-baldwin/) > [The biggest journalistic game-changer of our time has been the rise of social media and the overgrowth of faux news sources - league- and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lipsyte/the-biggest-journalistic-game-changer-of-our-time-has-been-the-rise/) [Robert Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lipsyte/) > [There's a whole journalistic-industrial complex dedicated to keeping newsprint, TV screens and radio waves clean of destabilizing scoops damaging to corporations or the state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-cockburn/there-s-a-whole-journalistic-industrial-complex-dedicated-to-keeping/) [Alexander Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-cockburn/) > [“He cannot deny a certain relief in being able to sift through academic tomes, fulfilling his journalistic duty without having to barge past security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rachman/he-cannot-deny-a-certain-relief-in-being-able-to-sift-through/) [Tom Rachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rachman/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## More by Malcolm Turnbull > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [I believe politicians should aim to be accurate and truthful in what they say at all times. You can be truthful and inaccurate but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-believe-politicians-should-aim-to-be-accurate-and-truthful-in-what/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [I have always been generous because I know that I have done well in life and I believe it is part of my duty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-have-always-been-generous-because-i-know-that-i-have-done-well-in/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [Many Liberals are rightly dismayed that on this vital issue of climate change we are not simply without a policy, without any prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/many-liberals-are-rightly-dismayed-that-on-this-vital-issue-of/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [We learn from every natural disaster. Whether it's a fire or a flood, we learn something from it so we can respond to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/we-learn-from-every-natural-disaster-whether-it-s-a-fire-or-a-flood/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [Do the bishops seriously imagine that legalising gay marriage will result in thousands of parties to heterosexual marriages suddenly deciding to get divorced so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/do-the-bishops-seriously-imagine-that-legalising-gay-marriage-will/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [I am an ambitious person, but I am not ambitious in the sense that I want jobs only for the sake of them... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-am-an-ambitious-person-but-i-am-not-ambitious-in-the-sense-that-i/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [The question of whether or to what extent human activities are causing global warming is not a matter of ideology, let alone of belief.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/the-question-of-whether-or-to-what-extent-human-activities-are/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [Are not the gays who seek the right to marry, to formalise their commitment to each other, holding up a mirror to heterosexuals who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/are-not-the-gays-who-seek-the-right-to-marry-to-formalise-their/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [Those who condemn gay marriage, yet are silent or indifferent to the breakdown of marriage and divorce, are, in my view, missing the real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/those-who-condemn-gay-marriage-yet-are-silent-or-indifferent-to-the/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [You will never find a better friend to the United States than Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/you-will-never-find-a-better-friend-to-the-united-states-than/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [I'm sick of the cover-ups, I'm sick of the lies, and so are the bloody veterans, that come out daily of the department's mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-m-sick-of-the-cover-ups-i-m-sick-of-the-lies-and-so-are-the-bloody/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [While our energy efficiency is improving, there is a very high correlation, almost near perfect correlation, between GDP growth, and energy usage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/while-our-energy-efficiency-is-improving-there-is-a-very-high/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [You cannot keep on saying oh, you know, talking about disrespecting women as just being politically correct or it's not a big deal or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/you-cannot-keep-on-saying-oh-you-know-talking-about-disrespecting/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [What every prime minister struggles with and every leader struggles with is how to balance the two objectives; firstly that of ensuring that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/what-every-prime-minister-struggles-with-and-every-leader-struggles/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) [Explore all 79 Malcolm Turnbull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) ## More Balance quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“We don't need to strive towards balance, we rather need to work on the obstacles that are preventing the natural flow of balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-alebraheem/we-don-t-need-to-strive-towards-balance-we-rather-need-to-work-on-the/) [A.A. Alebraheem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-alebraheem/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [Once you've gotten your money in balance, you know how much you have to spend on things that are just fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/once-you-ve-gotten-your-money-in-balance-you-know-how-much-you-have/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I never understood how much running changes your life. I'm now obsessed. When not trying to beat my personal best, I'm talking to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-never-understood-how-much-running-changes-your-life-i-m-now/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whatever needed to be done, I need to know how to do it just as well as my wife. You know, for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/whatever-needed-to-be-done-i-need-to-know-how-to-do-it-just-as-well/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't think my parents would have let me go straight into acting full time when I was 12. I do like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-don-t-think-my-parents-would-have-let-me-go-straight-into-acting/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [When it comes down to music, I have no balance. I am 100 percent. It is like full throttle. Five hundred miles an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-it-comes-down-to-music-i-have-no-balance-i-am-100-percent-it-is/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) [Browse all 5,166 Balance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most effective check and balance on government has been an independent press which maintains its credibility by ensuring that its criticism is balanced and based on fact - based indeed on solid journalistic work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm Turnbull" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on-government-has-been-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on-government-has-been-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/malcolm-turnbull-8650_balance_the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on_1393497.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/malcolm-turnbull-8650_balance_the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on_1393497.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/malcolm-turnbull-8650_balance_the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on_1393497.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most effective check and balance on government has been an independent press which maintains its…” — Malcolm Turnbull", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Malcolm Turnbull", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most effective check and balance...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on-government-has-been-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/the-most-effective-check-and-balance-on-government-has-been-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```