New shield laws for journalists pass but but won’t apply to CCC Star Chamber

New laws to protect journalists from having to reveal their sources have passed in Queensland, but there’s one crucial place the new legislation won’t apply.

Journalists will be shielded from having to reveal their sources after new legislation passed in Queensland, but the State Government voted down a push for the laws to extend to the state’s corruption watchdog’s Star Chamber.

Police Minister Mark Ryan, speaking on behalf of Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman, said amendments from the Opposition and the Greens were “overly simplistic” and failed to appreciate the existing framework of privileges under the Crime and Corruption Act.

“They would in fact add a further insignificant layer of complexity and confusion and exacerbate the problem that the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee is trying to resolve in recommending the review of chapters three and four of the Crime and Corruption Act,” he said.

“The Crime and Corruption Committee is not a court of record and it is unclear how the amendments would operate with the broad definition of court and proceeding in schedule three of the Evidence Act.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The Opposition and the Greens had both moved to extend the laws so that journalists wouldn’t face jail for refusing to reveal their sources in the Crime and Corruption Commission’s Star Chamber, with Opposition Attorney-General spokesman Tim Nicholls earlier this week insisting that a “key pillar” of a democracy was a free media.

Ms Fentiman last year said the next tranche of legislation would be introduced this year.

But Mr Nicholls questioned whether the government was committed to further changes.

“There have been talks of reviews but there has never actually been a statement that says the government will apply the shield laws for journalists appearing before the CCC,” he said on Thursday.

Mr Nicholls said Ms Fentiman gave no commitment this week and it was therefore necessary for the parliament to consider the amendments.

However the amendments were voted down by the government.

The new laws will shield journalists, editors and others who come forward with information from being forced to reveal their source in matters before a court.