Media alert – Independent Review of Secrecy Laws: Is the balance right?
The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) Mr Jake Blight will hold a public hearing as part of an independent review into the secrecy offences in Part 5.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (‘Criminal Code’).
The review and public hearing provide a forum for the press, national security and policy agencies, the legal profession and others to make submissions on the proportionality of secrecy offences.
Witnesses at the 25/26 March public hearing will include Mr Mike Burgess, Director-General of ASIO, Mr Keiran Pender, Human Rights Law Centre, and journalists Professor Peter Greste and Mr Paul Farrell, in addition to senior officials from Defence, the Australian Federal Police and the Office of National Intelligence.
Mr Blight will discuss the role of the INSLM and the public hearing, and will be available for comment at 8:45am on Monday, 25 March at the Burbury Close entrance of the Hotel Realm.
| DOORSTOP: | |
| DATE: | Monday 25 March |
| TIME: | 8:45am |
| LOCATION: | Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Burbury Close entrance, Barton, Canberra |
| PUBLIC HEARINGS: | |
| DATE: | Monday 25 March and Tuesday 26 March 2024 |
| TIME: | 25 March – 9:15am start (doors will open from 8:45am) 26 March – 9:00am start (doors will open from 8:30am) |
| LOCATION: | Hotel Realm, 18 National Circuit, Burbury Close entrance, Barton, Canberra (National Ballroom 3) |
The INSLM has received 19 submissions following the announcement of the INSLM review in January 2024.
Read the written submissions to the INSLM Secrecy Review
The INSLM Public Hearing Program into the Review of Secrecy Offences in part 5.6 of the Criminal Code can be on the Secrecy Review page.
Members of the public and media organisations are welcome to attend the public hearings.
INSLM public hearings will be streamed live.
A transcript of the public hearing will be made available on the INSLM website in due course.