New ICAC refuses to rule out interrogating reporters who reveal investigations

The new NT corruption watchdog has refused to rule out subpoenaing journalists who report on investigations by, or into, his office and then gagging them from speaking about it.

NEW NT corruption watchdog Michael Riches has refused to rule out subpoenaing journalists who report on cases that come before him, despite promising not to pressure them to reveal a confidential source.

On Thursday, Mr Riches said the journalist shield law in the Evidence Act “ought to apply to my office and me” after his predecessor, Ken Fleming QC, told parliamentary estimates it did not.

Mr Riches said while he agreed that the terms of the legislation “tend towards the view” that the shield did not apply to ICAC, he supported its application in any event.

“The media play an important role in a democratic society,” he said.

“At the heart of quality journalism is the ability to receive, in confidence, reliable and accurate information.

“Parliament has recognised the importance of protecting journalists and their sources and I can think of no good reason why that protection should not to extend to my activities.”

But Mr Riches refused to answer any follow up questions about whether he would still use his extraordinary powers to interrogate journalists who report on investigations by, or into, his office.

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance’s Adam Portelli said any efforts to “stifle or suppress news and information that is clearly in the public interest” was “an attack on the public’s right to know”.

“Anti-corruption bodies must not misuse their extraordinary star-chamber powers to gag journalists or to question them in secret,” he said.

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“Journalists must be allowed to seek advice … from their employer — and no anti-corruption body should expect any journalist to breach their ethical obligation to never divulge the identity of a confidential source.”

Mr Riches said while the shield law “should not be absolute”, it should be up to a court to decide under what circumstances it could be overridden.

But he refused to say whether journalists would still be forced to testify about stories they wrote detailing investigations — such as ICAC inspector Bruce McClintock’s recent probe into Mr Fleming’s office — and then gagged from speaking about or reporting on it.

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