The Commonwealth Government’s shield laws for journalists are a “welcome and long overdue” development that will provide much-needed protection for journalists. The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, this week announced the introduction of legislation that will deliver a degree of protection to journalists by giving judges discretion not to jail reporters for refusing to reveal their sources.

The Alliance has been campaigning for years for a law change to provide meaningful protection for media workers who have previously been open to pressure from courts to name their sources.

Alliance federal secretary, Christopher Warren, said this was a key development which would encourage whistleblowers to come reveal information in the public interest.

In the past journalists have faced jail or a fine and a criminal record for refusing to name their sources, which has acted as a deterrent to whistleblowers, Mr Warren said.   

“We welcome this announcement – it’s a long overdue development which unfortunately comes a little late to prevent Michael Harvey and Gerard McManus from getting criminal records for refusing to name their sources a couple of years go,” Mr Warren said.

“But on the whole we applaud the Attorney-General and urge the states attorneys-general to follow his lead and introduce similar measures.

“Ideally we’d like to see an assumption in favour of protecting journalists and their sources built in to the new legislation. But this measure is a significant step that will improve Australia’s international reputation as a country that believes in the importance of a free press.”

Mr Warren will address a major conference on press freedom in Sydney next week, presenting a paper on developments in the area of media legislation and freedom of information.

The conference is hosted by the Right to Know Coalition which comprises the Media Alliance and Australia’s major media organisations.

“Australia still has a way to go before we can boast the same commitment to free speech and press freedom as some other countries, but this measure is a sign that the Rudd Government is prepared to deliver on its promise to foster open and accountable government and we welcome it.”