Press Council Submissions: 1988 - 2008

The Council has made the following submissions since 1 July 1988. Copies of each are available from the Council. The most recent ones will be accessible on this site.

101. 18 April 2008 - to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts: Inquiry into the Sexualisation of Children in the Contemporary Media Environment.

100. 10 March 2008 - to the NSW Ombudsman's Review of the NSW Freedom of Information Act 1989.

99. 7 March 2008 - to the Independent Review of the Freedom of Information Act 1992 (Qld).

98. 25 January 2008 - to the Northern Territory Department of Justice, Five-Year Review of the Information Act 2002.

97. 12 December 2007 - to the NSW Legislative Council Standing Committee on Law and Justice Inquiry into the Prohibition on the Publication of Names of Children Involved in Criminal Proceedings.

96. 7 December 2007 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission in response to its Discussion Paper 72, Review of Australian Privacy Law.

95. 14 September 2007 - to the NSW Law Reform Commission in response to Consultation Paper 1, Invasion of Privacy.

94. 6 July 2007 - to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Terrorist Material) Bill 2007.

93. 22 May 2007 - to the Commonwealth Attorney-General on proposed amendments to the Classification Code to prohibit publication of material advocating terrorism.

92. 23 April 2007 - to the state and territory Attorneys-General on possible changes to the Defamation Act on the posting of comments on newspaper weblogs.

91. 23 April 2007 - to the federal Minister of Communications on possible changes to the Broadcasting Services Act on the posting of comments on newspaper weblogs.

90. 12 January 2007 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission in response to its Issues Paper 31, Review of Privacy.

89. 31 October 2006 - to the Queensland Law Reform Commission, in response to its discussion paper, Confidentiality in the Guardianship System: Public Justice, Private Lives.

88. 25 September 2006 - to the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee on its inquiry into the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006 and related bills.

87. 8 August 2006 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission on its review of the Privacy Act 1988.

86. 6 July 2006 - to the NSW Attorney-General and the Victorian County Court on their respective inquiries into access to court records.

85. 28 June 2006 - to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security commenting on the recommendations of the Sheller Inquiry into anti-terrorism legislation.

84. 22 June 2006 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission in response to its Discussion Paper 72, Review of Sedition Laws.

83. 24 May 2006 - to the NSW Department of Community Services in response to its review of the Adoption Act.

82. 9 April 2006 - to the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in response to its discussion paper, Meeting the Digital Challenge, on media reform options

81. 17 April 2006 - to the High Court, an amicus curiae brief on its consideration of McKinnon v Secretary, Department of Treasury

80. 13 April 2006 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission review of Schedule 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005 and the provisions of Part IIA of the Crimes Act 1914

79. 11 November 2005 - to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee inquiry into the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005.

78. 13 October 2005 - to the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General in response to its discussion paper Unauthorised photographs on the Internet and ancillary privacy issues.

77. 17 August 2005 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission on its review of the Uniform Evidence Acts.

76. 26 April 2005 - to the Senate Committee of Privileges on its review of unauthorised disclosures from parliamentary committees.

75. 21 April 2005 - to the NSW Attorney-General on the Criminal Procedure Further Amendment (Evidence) Bill 2005 and on recent amendments to the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW)

74. 14 April 2005 - to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD Inquiry into Division Three of Part III of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979

73. 6 April 2005 - to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee Inquiry into the National Security Information Legislation Bill 2005

72. 24 February 2005 - to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee on its review of the Privacy Act

71. 25 January 2005 - to the Privacy Commissioner on its review of the public sector provisions of the Privacy Act

70. 29 June 2004 - to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee Inquiry into the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Bill 2004.

69. 22 June 2004 - to the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission Inquiry into Police Radio Communication Access.

68. 16 June 2004 - to the Supreme Court of NSW on its draft policy on Access to Court Records.

67. 7 May 2004 - to the NSW Attorney-General on NSW Law Reform Commission Report 100, Contempt by Publication.

66. 19 March 2004 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission on its Discussion Paper 67, Protecting Classified and Security Sensitive Information.

65. 5 December 2003 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission on a Background Paper, Protecting Classified and Security Sensitive Information.

64. 31 October 2003 - to the federal Department of Health on its review of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992.

63. 13 June 2003 - to the NSW Law Reform Commission on its report on possible reforms of surveillance devices legislation (supplementary to an earlier general submission in July 2002).

62. 6 February 2003 - to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, on its reference on "Privacy and Media Intrusion".

61. 16 April 2002 - to the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee on its inquiry into the Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2002.

60. 19 October 2001 - to the Attorney General of South Australia on the 'Payola' provisions of the Criminal Law Consolidation (Offences of Dishonesty) Amendment Bill 2001.

59. 10 October 2001 - to the NSW Attorney-General on reform of the NSW defamation law.

58. 7 June 2001 - to the Parliamentary Joint Statutory Committee on Corporations and Securities, on the provisions of the Financial Services Reform Bill 2001.

57. 30 April 2001 - to the NSW Law Reform Commission on its Discussion Paper, Contempt by Publication

56. 6 March 2001 - to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee on Bills concerning political honesty and accountability

55. 3 November 2000 - to the NSW Attorney-General, in response to his call for submissions on reform of the NSW defamation law.

54. 16 October 2000 - to the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, re the Defamation Bill 1999.

53. 13 October 1999 - to the federal Attorney-General, responding to the Information Paper, The Government's proposed legislation for the protection of privacy in the private sector, September 1999.

52. 21 July 1999 - Second Supplementary Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Information Technologies, following its 28 June 1999 request for additional material on developments since the Council presented material to the committee in 1998.

51. 25 May 1999 - to the Productivity Commission responding to that part of its March 1999 Issues Paper, Broadcasting, that is concerned with cross media ownership rules.

50. 22 October 1998 - to the NSW Attorney General's Department, on putative guidelines for access to public records under the State Records Act 1998

49. 13 October 1998 - the Federal, State and Territory Attorneys-General, calling for the reinstatement of uniform defamation law on the agenda of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General.

48. 18 August 1998 - to the Department of Justice, Victoria, on its Discussion Paper, "Surveillance Devices Bill", July 1998

47. 9 April 1998 - supplementary matters - to the Senate Select Committee on Information Technologies on its Inquiry into Self-regulation in the Information and Communications Industries.

46. 28 January 1998 - to the Constitutional Convention, calling for the entrenchment of a Bill of Rights including freedom of the speech and of the press.

45. 27 January 1998 - to the Senate Select Committee on Information Technologies on its Inquiry into Self-regulation in the Information and Communications Industries.

44. 28 November 1997 - response to Suicide Prevention Australia on its draft Suicide Resource Kit.

43. 31 July 1997 - to the Legal, Constitutional and Administrative Review Committee of the Queensland Legislation Assembly on its Issues Paper, "Privacy in Queensland", May 1997.

42. 31 July 1997 - to the New South Wales Law Reform Commission on its Issues Paper, "Review of Visual and Aural Surveillance Devices", May 1997.

41. 29 November 1996 - to the High Court, an amicus curiae brief on its reconsideration of its findings in the Theophanous and Stephens cases.

40. 22 November 1996 - to the NSW Attorney-General, commenting on the exposure draft of the Defamation Bill 1996 (NSW).

39. 11 November 1996 - to the Australian Minister for Communications and the Arts, responding to his Issues Paper, Cross Media Ownership Rules.

38. 15 August 1996 - to the NSW Attorney-General, responding to a Discussion Paper, Protecting Confidential Communications from Disclosure in Court Proceedings.

37. 29 April 1996 - to the NSW Attorney-General, responding to the NSW Law Reform Commission Report 75, Defamation.

36. 5 March 1996 - to the Australian Law Reform Commission in response to its Discussion paper 61, Who Can Sue?

35. 5 March 1996 - to the South Australian Constitutional Advisory Council on various constitutional issues relating to possible changes in the constitution concerning the Head of State.
[Subsequently sent, in a slightly amended form, to: the Western Australian Commission on Government in response to its reference on various issues related to the State Constitution.]

34. 21 November 1995 - to the Queensland Attorney-General on the Jury Bill 1995.

33. 24 February 1995 - to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on the Racial Hatred Bill, 1994.

32. 26 August 1994 - to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into the Rights and Obligations of the Media: on its 8 July Reference on the Conflict between Journalistic Ethics and Parliamentary Privilege.

31. 1 February 1994 - to a Senate Select Committee: on its Consideration of Public Interest Whistleblowing.

30. 25 January 1994 - Submission to a Senate Select Committee: on its Consideration of Certain Aspects of Foreign Ownership Decisions in Relation to the Print Media.

29. 5 November 1993 - Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission: on Issues Arising from its Discussion Paper on its Consideration of Defamation Law Reform.

28. 1 September 1993 - Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs: on its Inquiry into the Rights and Obligations of the Media.

27. 5 August 1993 - Submission to Federal, State and Territory Attorneys-General and Shadow Attorneys-General: on the Powers of Search and Seizure Vested in Law Enforcement Agencies and Investigative Bodies.

26. 26 March 1993 - Submission to a NSW Parliamentary Legislation Committee: on the Whistleblowers' Protection Bill 1992 (No. 2).

25. 12 March 1993 - Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission: on its Reference to Consider Reform of the Defamation Law.

24. 12 March 1993 - Submission to the Queensland Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee: on its Review of the Criminal Justice Commission's Powers to Require the Production of Records and Things.

23. 14 October 1992 - Submission to Mr Peter Foss, MLC (Western Australia): re his Private Member's Bill, the Privacy of Grief Bill, 1992.

22. 14 October 1992 - to a NSW Parliamentary Legislation Committee: on the Government Publicity Control Bill, 1992.

21. 13 October 1992 - to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs: on the Protection of Confidential Personal and Commercial Information Held by the Commonwealth.

20. 9 October 1992 - Submission to Sir David Calcutt, QC: re his Review of Press Self-Regulation in the UK.

19. 17 August 1992: Submission to the Queensland Electoral and Administrative Review Commission: in Response to its Discussion Paper No. 20, "The Review of the Preservation and Enhancement of the Individual's Rights and Freedoms".

18. 17 June 1992 - Submission to a NSW Parliamentary Legislation Committee: in response to its Discussion Paper on the Defamation Bill 1991.

17. 15 June 1992 - Submission to the Inter-Governmental Committee on AIDS: re its Discussion Paper, "HIV/AIDS and the Media - Broadcast Censorship and Privacy Law".

16. 14 April 1992 - Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission: in Response to its Discussion Paper, "Blasphemy".

15. 12 March 1992 - Submission to the WA Law Reform Commission: re Professional Privilege for Confidential Communications.
[Subsequently sent, in a slightly amended form, to:

• the Queensland Attorney-General, following the jailing of Mr Joe Budd;
• the South Australian Attorney-General, following the jailing of Mr Chris Nicholls and the conviction of Mr David Hellaby; and
• the Australian Attorney-General, calling for a Federal Shield Law.]

14. 6 March 1992 - Submission to the NSW Justices Act Review Committee: in Response to its Discussion Paper, "Review of the Justices Act", and, in particular, the Section of it Entitled, "Access to and Publication of Court Proceedings".

13. 12 February 1992 - Submission to the NSW Parliamentary Legislation Committee and to the Attorneys-General of Queensland and Victoria: in Response to the Defamation Bill 1991.

12. 7 February 1992 - Submission to the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters (Western Australia): in Response to its Discussion Paper.

11. 1 October 1991 - Submission to the House of Representatives Select Committee on the Print Media: re the Press Council and Other Matters Relevant to the Committee's Terms of Reference.

10. 26 September 1991 - Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Political Broadcasts and Political Disclosures: on the Political Advertising and Political Disclosures Bill, 1991.

9. 19 September 1991 - Submission to the Queensland Electoral and Administrative Review Commission: on the Protection of Whistleblowers.

8. 28 August 1991 - Submission to a Joint Select Committee appointed by the Commonwealth Parliament: on its Inquiry into the Provisions and Operations of the Family Law Act 1975.

7. July 1991 - Submission to the Australian Government: on the Proposed Ban on Political Advertising and Free Speech.

6. February 1991 - Submission to the Attorneys-General of NSW, Queensland and Victoria: in response to the Discussion Paper No 2, "Reform of Defamation Law".

5. 3 October 1990 - Submission to the Attorneys-General of NSW, Queensland and Victoria: in response to the Discussion Paper on the Reform of Defamation Law.

4. August 1990 - Submission to the Western Australian Government: on the Criminal Code Amendment (Incitement to Racial Hatred) Bill 1989.

3. 5 December 1989 - Submission to the National Consumer Affairs Advisory Council: in Response to NCAAC Discussion paper, "Regulation of Ownership of the Australian Media".

2. April 1989 - Submission to the New South Wales Government: in Response to a Discussion Paper on Racial Vilification and Proposed Amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.

1. February 1989 - Submission to the Gibbs Committee (Committee of Review of Commonwealth Criminal Law): on Proposed Changes to the Official Secrets Act.