InBrief

The�justice system has�come under scrutiny in the Report of the Independent Audit into the State of Free Speech in Australia, written by Irene Moss AO. The report finds that�"the principle of open justice has been eroded over recent years".

"Limits on access by the media to court documents and information and an increase in suppression orders (particularly in the lower courts) are examples of where the principle is seen as threatened. Journalists report not only difficulty getting access to court documents and information, but also a lack of clear guidelines on such access. They sometimes report a virtual capriciousness by some members of the judiciary and court officers when deciding whether to allow access", the report finds.

View the report>

6 November 2007