Footnotes

Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]        Item 1, items 2 & 4, items 7 & 8, items 5 & 6, item 5, and item 9 of the Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege) Bill 2009, respectively. Also, see Explanatory Memorandum, pp 1-2.

Chapter 2 - Overview of the Bill

[1]        Clause 126AA of the Bill. Examples relevant to both forms of public interest are cited in the Explanatory Memorandum: see Explanatory Memorandum, p. 3.

[2]        The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3244.

[3]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 1.

[4]        The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3245.

[5]        Paragraph 126B(3)(a) of the Act.

[6]        Paragraph 126B(4)(e) of the Act.

[7]        The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3245.

[8]        Explanatory Memorandum, p. 1.

[9]        The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3245. Also, see Explanatory Memorandum, p. 2.

[10]      House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Inquiry into Whistleblowing Protections within the Australian Government Public Sector, February 2009.

[11]      The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3245.

[12]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 5. Also, see O'Rourke v Darbishire [1920] AC 581.

[13]      Clause 126B(4) of the Bill. Also, see Explanatory Memorandum, pp 4-5.

[14]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 5. Also, see the Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3246.

[15]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 2.

[16]      Explanatory Memorandum, p. 6.

[17]      The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3246.

Chapter 3 - Key Issues

[1]        The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney-General, Submission 9, p. 2. Also see, Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning v Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd (unreported, 90640127, 14 August 1996).

[2]        The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney-General, Submission 9, p. 2.

[3]        WA Director of Public Prosecutions, Submission 11, pp 2-3.

[4]        Media Arts Entertainment Alliance, Code of Ethics, Guideline 3 and Guidance Clause.

[5]        Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Submission 7, p. 3 & pp 5-6.

[6]        For example, the Hon. Simon Corbell MLA, ACT Attorney-General, Submission 10, p. 3.

[7]        Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, Privilege for Journalists, Project No. 53, February 1980, p. 10. Also, see WA Director of Public Prosecutions, Submission 11, pp 3-4.

[8]        Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 5, pp 2-3.

[9]        The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, pp 4-5. Also, see the Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney-General, Submission 9, pp 1-2; and the Hon. Lara Giddings MP, Tasmanian Attorney-General, Submission 13, p. 1.

[10]      WA Director of Public Prosecutions, Submission 11, p. 1.

[11]      Section 126A of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW). The NSW provisions focus on communications made by a person in confidence to another person (protected confidences), and the professional nature of the relationship. They are otherwise identical to the Act: Australian Associated Press, Answers to Questions on Notice, 1 May 2009 (received 1 May 2009). Also, see The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, p. 4; and Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 5, pp 3-4. Both submissions noted that the NSW provisions overcome many of the definition difficulties identified in the Commonwealth legislation.

[12]      The Hon. Simon Corbell MLA, ACT Attorney-General, Submission 10, p. 3. Also, see WA DPP, Submission 11, pp 4-5.

[13]      The Hon. Lara Giddings MP, Tasmanian Attorney-General, Submission 13, p. 1. Also, see WA Director of Public Prosecutions, Submission 11, pp 4-5.

[14]      Australian Associated Press, Submission 4, p. 2. Also, see Australian Press Council, Submission 3, p. 3; and Laurie Oakes, 'The fight for access to truth', The Australian, 4 May 2009, pp 31-32.

[15]      Subsections 126B(1)-(3) of the Evidence Act 1995.

[16]      Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 5, pp 4-5.

[17]      The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, p. 3. Also, see the Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney-General, Submission 9, p. 2.

[18]      Item 3 of the Bill.

[19]      Australian Press Council, Submission 3, p. 3 and Item 3 of the Bill.

[20]      WA Director of Public Prosecutions, Submission 11, p. 4.

[21]      Item 5 of the Bill.

[22]      The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, p. 3.

[23]      Dr Joseph Fernandez, Submission 1, p. 9.

[24]      Australian Associated Press, Submission 4, pp 5-6.

[25]      Australia's Right to Know, Submission 8, p. 2.

[26]      For example, Belinda Tasker, Gerard McManus and Michael Harvey. Also, see the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, 'Professional Privilege for Confidential Communications – Project No. 90', May 1993 for a description of other cases in which journalists have been found in contempt of court for failing to disclose confidential sources; and Australia's Right to Know, Answers to Questions on Notice undated (received 1 May 2009) .

[27]      Section 10 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (UK).

[28]      Subsections 68(1) & (5) of the Evidence Act 2006 (NZ)

[29]      Subsections 68(2), (3) & (5) of the Evidence Act 2006 (NZ)

[30]      Australia's Right to Know, Submission 8, p. 6.

[31]      For example, Dr Joseph Fernandez, Submission 1; Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Submission 7; Australian Press Council, Submission 3; Australian Associated Press, Submission 4; Australia's Right to Know, Submission 8; Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 5; and Rae Desmond Jones, Submission 12.

[32]      Australian Press Council, Submission 3, pp 3-4.

[33]      Australian Associated Press, Submission 4, p. 3. Also, see John Fairfax & Sons v Cojuangco (1988) 165 CLR 346 for the substance of the Newspaper Rule.

[34]      Dr Joseph Fernandez, Submission 1, p. 12. Also, see Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Submission 7, p. 6.

[35]      The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3246.

[36]      The Hon. Simon Corbell MLA, ACT Attorney-General, Submission 10, p. 2.

[37]      For example, Dr Bob Such MP, Member for Fisher, Submission 6; and Australian Associated Press, Submission 4, p. 6.

[38]      The Hon. Lara Giddings MP, Tasmanian Attorney-General, Submission 13, p. 1.

[39]      For example, Australia's Right to Know, Submission 8, p. 5 and the Australian Associated Press, Submission 4, p. 3.

[40]      The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney-General, Submission 9, p. 3. Also, see the Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, p. 5.

[41]      Australian Associated Press, Answers to Questions on Notice, 1 May 2009 (received 1 May 2009).

[42]      Standing Committee of Attorneys General, Communiqué, November 2008, p. 7; and Standing Committee of Attorneys General, Communiqué, 16-17 April 2009, p. 8: www.scag.gov.au (accessed 21 April 2009).

[43]      The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, pp 5-6.

[44]      The Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney-General, Submission 9, p. 1.

[45]      Chris Merritt, 'Federal shield law under attack but McClelland pushes ahead', The Australian, 24 April 2009, p. 27.

Additional comments by Liberal senators

[1]        Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 5, pp 2-3.

[2]        The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, pp 4-5. Also, see the Hon. John Hatzistergos MLC, NSW Attorney-General, Submission 9, pp 1-2; and the Hon. Lara Giddings MP, Tasmanian Attorney-General, Submission 13, p. 1.

[3]        Liberal senators note that a proposed US federal shield law excludes bloggers by defining its 'covered person': see Australian Associated Press, Answers to Questions on Notice, 1 May 2009, p. 2. (received 1 May 2009).

[4]        Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Submission 7, p. 3 & pp 5-6.

[5]        Australian Law Reform Commission, Review of the Uniform Evidence Acts (2005), Report 102, Recommendation 15-1. Also, see the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, 'Professional Privilege for Confidential Communications - Project No. 90, May 1993; the Hon. Simon Corbell MLA, ACT Attorney-General, Submission 10, p. 2; the Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, p. 4; Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 5, pp 3-4; and Australian Associated Press, Answers to Questions on Notice, 1 May 2009 (received 1 May 2009).

[6]        WA Director of Public Prosecutions, Submission 11, p. 4.

[7]        Mr David Bennett QC, former Commonwealth Solicitor-General quoted in Chris Merritt, 'Whistleblowers shun new laws', The Australian, 17 April 2009, p. 28.

[8]        For a compendium of state shield laws in the United States, see http://www.poynterextra.org/shieldlaw/ (accessed 30 April 2009).

[9]        Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate, HR985 – Free Flow of Information Act of 2009, 27 March 2009 .

[10]      http://judiciary.senate.gov/hearings/hearing.cfm?id=3817 (accessed 4 May 2009).

[11]      http://casp.net/statutes/S%20448.pdf (accessed 4 May 2009).

[12]      Also, see Australian Associated Press, Answers to Questions on Notice, 1 May 2009, pp 1-2 (received 1 May 2009). The AAP also notes that both bills contain 'strong safeguards for source confidentiality' (ie. limitations).

[13]      Australian Associated Press, Submission 4, p. 3. Also, see John Fairfax & Sons v Cojuangco (1988) 165 CLR 346 for the substance of the Newspaper Rule.

[14]      Australia's Right to Know, Submission 8, p. 6.

[15]      For example, Dr Joseph Fernandez, Submission 1; Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Submission 7; Australian Press Council, Submission 3; Australian Associated Press, Submission 4; Australia's Right to Know, Submission 8; Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 5, p. 6; and Rae Desmond Jones, Submission 12.

[16]      Australia's Right to Know, Submission 8, pp 5-6.

[17]      Correspondence to the committee dated 7 April 2009.

[18]      Mr Andrew Stewart, Baker & McKenzie quoted in Chris Merritt, 'Whistleblowers shun new laws', The Australian, 17 April 2009, p. 28.

[19]      The Hon. Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General, House Hansard, 19 March 2009, p. 3245.

[20]      For example, the Hon. Lara Giddings MP, Tasmanian Attorney-General, Submission 13, p. 1.

[21]      Mr Chris Merritt, 'Whistleblowers shun new laws', The Australian, 17 April 2009, p. 28. Also, see Mr Drew Warne Smith, 'Whistleblowers left exposed by new shield laws', The Australian, 4 May 2009, p. 32.

[22]      Mr David Levine, former NSW Supreme Court Judge quoted in Chris Merritt, 'Whistleblowers shun new laws', The Australian, 17 April 2009, p. 28.

[23]      Chris Merritt, 'Federal shield law under attack but McClelland pushes ahead', The Australian, 24 April 2009, p. 27.

[24]      Attorney-General's Department, Answers to Questions on Notice, 1 May 2009, pp 2-3 (received 1 May 2009).

[25]      The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General, Submission 2, p. 5.

[26]      The Hon. C. Christian Porter MLA, WA Attorney-General quoted in Chris Merritt, 'Federal shield law under attack but McClelland pushes ahead', The Australian, 24 April 2009, p. 27.

Additional comments by the Australian Greens

[1]        Attorney-General's Department, Committee Hansard, Melbourne, 28 April 2009, p.33.

[2]        Dr Joseph Fernandez, Committee Hansard, Melbourne, 28 April 2009, p. 3.

[3]        Attorney-General's Department, Committee Hansard, Melbourne, 28 April 2009, p. 34.

[4]        Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Submission 2, p. 2.

Minority Report by Senator Nick Xenophon

[1] Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) – Section 126B(3)

[2] Ibid, Section 126B(4)

[3] Ibid, Section 126D

[4] Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege) Bill 2009, Explanatory Memorandum, p 1.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid, p 2.

[7] Neilsen, MA., Magarey, K, Evidence Amendment (Journalists’ Privilege) Bill 2009, Bills Digest, No. 130, 2008–09, p 6. Available at: https://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bd/2008-09/09bd130.pdf. See also, Explanatory Memorandum, p 2.

[8] Op,cit., Bills Digest, p 6.

[9] Australia's Right to Know Submission to the Inquiry into the Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege Bill 2009, submission no. 8, p 2.

[10] Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Media Alliance Code of Ethics www.alliance.org.au/resources/media

[11] Op.cit., Submission no. 8, p 2.

[12] Op.cit., Media Alliance Code of Ethics.

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Op.cit., Australia's Right to Know, submission no. 8, p 3.

[16] Ingham, L., Australian Shield Laws for Journalists: A Comparison with New Zealand the United Kingdom and the United States (2008) Australian National University, College of Law Internship Program, p 4.  Available at:  http://www.cla.asn.au/Article/ShieldLaws.pdf

[17] Ibid.

[18] Ibid.  See also Goodwin v the United Kingdom [1996] ECHR 16 at 39.

[19] See, Ingham, L., Australian Shield Laws for Journalists: A Comparison with New Zealand the United Kingdom and the United States (2008) Australian National University, College of Law Internship Program, p 16.  Available at:  http://www.cla.asn.au/Article/ShieldLaws.pdf

[20] [1991] 1 AC 1.

[21] Barnett, H., Constitutional & Administrative Law (2002) 4^th edition (London: Cavendish Publishing).  See also, Ingham, L., Australian Shield Laws for Journalists: A Comparison with New Zealand the United Kingdom and the United States , pp 15-16.

[22] [1996] ECHR 16.

[23] Ibid, at 46.

[24] Ibid, at 39.

[25] Ibid, at 39.

[26] Australia's Right to Know Submission to the Inquiry into the Evidence Amendment (Journalists' Privilege Bill 2009, submission no. 8, p 6.

[27] See for example, Dr Joseph Fernandez, submission no 1; Media Entertainments and Arts Alliance, submission no 7; Australian Press Council, submission no 3; Australian Associated Press, submission no 4; Public Interest Advocacy Centre, submission 5; Rae Desmond Jones, submission no 12, as referred to in Majority Report.

[28] See the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (Inquiry into whistleblowing protections within the Australian Government public sector) report entitled: Whistleblower protection: a comprehensive scheme for the Commonwealth public sector, tabled on 25 February 2009 (at viii, the Report makes reference to previous reviews, inquiries etc;).