The Balibo Five were a group of five Australian journalists: Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Malcolm Rennie, Tony Stewart, and Brian Peters, who were in Balibo, Portuguese Timor, to cover the escalating tensions in the region as Indonesia prepared for a military invasion. These journalists were among the last foreign media present in East Timor before the Indonesian invasion, which began shortly after their killing. While documenting the conflict, they were captured by Indonesian forces on October 16, 1975, and later executed, an act that would draw significant attention and condemnation both domestically in Australia and internationally. Their situation highlights the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones and brings critical awareness to the importance of press freedom, as well as the socio-political dynamics in Southeast Asia at the time.

The thrust of their work focused on revealing the plight of East Timorese people, who were caught in a violent struggle against colonial rule and the impending Indonesian takeover. The killings were initially downplayed by Indonesian authorities, who insisted the journalists had died in crossfire. However, subsequent investigations and press coverage revealed the nature of their deaths, sparking outrage and demands for accountability towards Indonesia's actions in East Timor. Reports of human rights abuses during the occupation grew, leading to widespread protests and international scrutiny, and establishing a narrative of victimization for the East Timorese.

The Balibo Five became symbolic of the sacrifices made by journalists attempting to expose the truth in the face of oppression and violence. Their work and subsequent deaths underscored the risks of reporting in war zones. The incident also influenced Australian foreign policy regarding East Timor as the country grappled with its relationship with Indonesia amid rising public awareness and concern for human rights violations.