Attorney-General Vickie Chapman prepares law to protect journalists who refuse to expose confidential sources in public interest

WHISTLEBLOWERS are set to get more protection to go public on issues of corruption and wrongdoing, as the State Government moves to deliver long-awaited journalist shield laws.

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WHISTLEBLOWERS are set to get more protection to go public on issues of corruption and wrongdoing, as the State Government moves on long-awaited journalist shield laws.

SA and Queensland are the only states without shield laws to let journalists keep sources confidential and avoid possible jail time for refusing to expose the identity of informants.

Shield laws were stubbornly opposed by the previous Labor government and attorney-general John Rau, but have long been backed by the Liberals and key crossbench MPs.

Draft legislation being prepared by the new Liberal State Government, and obtained by The Advertiser, shows the new protections would apply in instances where keeping sources confidential was clearly in the public interest.

Attorney General Vickie Chapman and Premier Steven Marshall.

However, judges would be able to threaten punishment in instances where there was a greater good in discovering the identity.

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance chief executive Paul Murphy said investigative journalists risked jail for doing their job ethically and protecting vulnerable sources.

“Public-interest journalism often relies on whistleblowers and other people who are brave enough to come forward and provide information,” he said.

“To be able to do that, they need a commitment from a journalist that their identity will be protected.”

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the laws would encourage more people to come forward with concerns.

“In a marked change from the previous government, the Marshall Government is advancing the interests of transparency, openness and informed public debate,” Ms Chapman said.

Courts could only overturn the protections if they believed doing so outweighed bad impacts on the informant, the free flow of information and value of maintaining a free press.

The Government said the change was intended to cover SA’s Independent Commission Against Corruption, despite it not being explicitly named in the draft laws. Under ICAC laws passed by Labor, refusal or failure to supply information can result in four years’ prison.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said his new-look Labor Party was “open minded” on backing change.

“We’ll take the opportunity to put fresh eyes on this issue,” Mr Malinauskas said.

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