Fed: Media barons warn of legal action over whistleblower laws
By Krista Hughes
CANBERRA, Feb 11 AAP - Newspaper bosses have warned the federal government they maychallenge in the High Court planned new laws cracking down on whistleblowers unless substantialchanges are made.
The government will introduce laws to parliament next week increasing jail terms forspies to up to 25 years.
But media organisations are also concerned the laws could impose a two-year jail termon public servants who leak official information, and journalists who receive it.
News Ltd and Fairfax have both written to Attorney-General Daryl Williams warning thelaws breached the constitution and could spark a High Court challenge.
News Ltd Group Editorial Manager Warren Beeby said the laws were a threat to free speechand democracy and appeared to be designed to stifle scrutiny of government activities.
"This company will not hesitate to challenge the legislation in the High Court if itprogresses in its present form," he wrote.
"(The) provisions are so broad that they go way beyond issues of national securityand cover all information pertaining to government.
"This naturally creates the impression that the bill is a subterfuge to stifle allleaked information which might prove embarrassing."
Fairfax corporate affairs manager Bruce Wolpe said the laws did not just aim to protectnational security, as the government claimed, but criminalised the receipt of officialinformation for the first time.
"If it is a crime to disclose any information, or to receive any information, thisbill, by limiting the coverage of the workings of government, directly hampers or preventspublic discussion of the issues of the day - and therefore goes to the heart of the operationof a free press in a democracy," he wrote to Mr Williams.
"Fairfax believes that the bill as presently drafted ... unlawfully impinges upon theimplied freedom of communication concerning government and political matters enshrinedin the Australian constitution."
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) said it would be prepared to backany legal challenge.
"We would welcome the fact that there could be a legal challenge if the legislationgoes ahead," MEAA federal secretary Chris Warren said.
"If it does end up before the High Court we would certainly seek to be involved."
Mr Williams was not immediately available for comment.
AAP kmh/daw/cjh/br
KEYWORD: WHISTLEBLOWER
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