Australia: Could the proposed privacy law kill-off investigative journalism?
Posted by Katherine Thompson on August 8, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Could the latest Australian Law Reform Commission proposal kill-off investigative journalism? Justin Quill, a litigation and media lawyer and a director with Kelly Hazell Lawyers, writes in today's The Australian that he fears it will.
Quill believes that the Law Reform Commission's report into privacy laws is likely to recommend legislation to create a right to privacy for the first time in Australia.
If he is right, Quil states, "the public will be told less about important issues and there will be a surge in privacy-based litigation."
He puts forward that such legislation is unnecessary in Australia, as the current laws are protective enough.
The discussion paper on the issue published by the Law Reform Commission indicates that if implemented a person could sue if:
* There has been an interference with an individual's home or family life.
* An individual has been subjected to unauthorised surveillance.
* Sensitive facts relating to an individual's private life have been disclosed.
Source: The Australian
Quill believes that the Law Reform Commission's report into privacy laws is likely to recommend legislation to create a right to privacy for the first time in Australia.
If he is right, Quil states, "the public will be told less about important issues and there will be a surge in privacy-based litigation."
He puts forward that such legislation is unnecessary in Australia, as the current laws are protective enough.
The discussion paper on the issue published by the Law Reform Commission indicates that if implemented a person could sue if:
* There has been an interference with an individual's home or family life.
* An individual has been subjected to unauthorised surveillance.
* Sensitive facts relating to an individual's private life have been disclosed.
Source: The Australian
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