Index of material on Confidential Sources and Shield Laws

This website contains a number of articles and references to issues of the protection of a journalist's confidential sources, by means of a shield law or by other methods. These include:

Submissions:

To the Australian Law Reform Commission on its 2005 review of
uniform Evidence Acts

A May 2007 letter to Attorneys-General calling for more effective shield laws.

Press releases:

The sentencing of McManus and Harvey
GPR 279

The charging of McManus and Harvey
GPR 268

in the FoP section:

2007-2008 Free Speech issues in Annual Report
on Professional Privilege

2006-2007 Free Speech issues in Annual Report
on Professional Privilege

2005-2006 Free Speech issues in Annual Report
on Professional Privilege

2004-2005 Free Speech issues in Annual Report
on Professional Privilege

2003-2004 Free Speech issues in Annual Report
on Professional Privilege

2002-2003 Free Speech issues in Annual Report
on Professional Privilege

2001-2002 Freedom of the Press summary
on Professional Privilege

1999-2000 Freedom of the Press summary
on Professional Privilege

1997-98 Freedom of the Press summary
on Professional Privilege

Australian press law articles:
Protection of Sources

Press Council positions:
Search And Seizure Of Journalists' Material
Shield Law

articles in the APC News

Report on the Senate Shield Laws report

Press Council News November 1995
Porposed NSW shield law

Searching for Sources
Richard Ackland on a recent Queensland inquiry in which journalists' protection of confidential sources was raised

Protection of Sources
The European Court of Human Rights supports a journalist's refusal to reveal a confidential source. David Flint summarises.

News report of submission to ALRC on proposed uniform Evidence Acts.

News report of statement on attempts to force Gerard McManus and Michael Harvey to reveal their sources.

February 2006 follow-up on ALRC report proposed uniform Evidence Acts.

February 2006 report of developments in McManus and Harvey case.

August 2006 report of further submisisons to Attorneys-General on protection of confidential sources.

August 2007 conference report on Courts and the media

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