Media access limited by new laws: OppositionThe New South Wales Opposition says the media access to documents in criminal court proceedings will now be restricted under new laws, which come into effect now. Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Tink says there could be delays in reporting cases because the media will have to apply for access to the files after cases are finished.
The new law says access to documents can be delayed until after proceedings are finally disposed of and that may take a long time!
Bob Debus??????????????????????????????????Please Bob?????????????????????????????????? Come on ?????????????????? But Bob!
In cases that need to be hidden for a long time or perhaps forever this could be long enough for an important person to finish the job they are not entitled to do.
Political insurance? Like a politician booked for drink driving. Or a Judge for lurking in public toilets. Who knows what you'll have to wait for?
I can tell you what cases you won't have to wait for though. People the government want to exploit and convict whether the purpose is the crime, public example or loss of government revenue.
The important people will escape from the public gaze like they never committed a crime at all. People who already are not asked questions because of their high position will go unnoticed after they have committed a crime.
This legislation protects the government and gives the government grace to either report or not depending on the circumstances behind the crime and whether it suits them or not.
Presently when documents are tendered in court the access for the media follows very soon after.
The laws apply to local court proceedings.
It stands to reason because low courts have a history of corruption. Magistrates are bought and sold in NSW everyday for the people who cannot afford a damaged reputation.
In a statement, the department says it will be meeting Police Legal Services today to clarify any misunderstandings about the new provisions.
By Public Deception 7 July 03
THE CHOOK: THAT'S CROOK? The Attorney-General's department says the changes enshrine in law the right of the media to access court documents available in open court. What! The media didn't have that right before? Nonsense!
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