Kalafi Moala says the media environment in Tonga is at a low.
He said the current government was trying to control channels of public information.
Mr Moala gave the move of senior journalists out of the state broadcaster's newsroom as just one example of this.
He said the government also responded to criticism or probing questions by making statements to ridicule the media.
Last week Tonga dropped two places to 51 in the Reporters without Borders freedom rankings.
Mr Moala said it was not an accurate reflection of the country.