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EVIDENCE ACT 1995 - SECT 126K Journalist privilege relating to identity of informant

EVIDENCE ACT 1995 - SECT 126K

Journalist privilege relating to identity of informant

126K Journalist privilege relating to identity of informant

(1) If a journalist has promised an informant not to disclose the informant's identity, neither the journalist nor his or her employer is compellable to give evidence that would disclose the identity of the informant or enable that identity to be ascertained.
(2) The court may, on the application of a party, order that subsection (1) is not to apply if it is satisfied that, having regard to the issues to be determined in the proceeding, the public interest in the disclosure of the identity of the informant outweighs--
(a) any likely adverse effect of the disclosure on the informant or any other person, and
(b) the public interest in the communication of facts and opinion to the public by the news media and, accordingly also, in the ability of the news media to access sources of facts.
(3) An order under subsection (2) may be made subject to such terms and conditions (if any) as the court thinks fit.