Media News - Monday, November 03, 2008

Australia: New law to protect identity of sources

Australian journalists and whistleblowers will have increased protection from prosecution under new laws to be introduced by the Federal Government. Changes to the Evidence Act will mean journalists may no longer be legally forced to reveal their sources to courts even if a person has broken a law in providing information. The changes will also introduce a ground of 'public interest in the publication of news' that judges will take into account when considering whether to protect whistleblowers from having their identity exposed in court. Under the new laws, journalists writing on issues of national security will also only be legally obliged to provide information on their source if the court determines it necessary. Currently, if a court finds any issue of national security involved in information provided for a report, the journalist must disclose that source or face prosecution for contempt of court. The changes will seek to bring the law closer to standards expected in journalists' professional code of ethics, which asks that once anonymity is agreed to for a source, it not be revealed by the journalist. (The Age)

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