SA: Govt to rid Adelaide of suppression city tag

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2006
SA: Govt to rid Adelaide of suppression city tag

ADELAIDE, April 4 AAP - The South Australian government wants to rid Adelaide of its
`suppression city' tag with plans to make it harder for judges to issue suppression orders
in court cases.

South Australia grants more suppression orders than anywhere else in Australia, Attorney
General Michael Atkinson said.

"The proposed changes to existing laws would open up the judicial system and help increase
public confidence in the court process," Mr Atkinson said.

"We want to make sure that these orders are used genuinely in the interests of justice,
to protect the privacy of victims and to prevent the accused escaping through mistrial.

"But what we don't want is for suppression orders to be used to protect the rights
of the accused ahead of the rights of victims."

Under the proposed changes public interest in the publication of court proceedings
and the rights of the news media to publish details of cases would be given greater weight.

Suppression orders would not be allowed unless refusal of the order would prejudice
the proper administration of justice or cause undue hardship.

Suppression orders would also be reviewed automatically at the end of court proceedings.

Mr Atkinson said the media might also be given online access to details of suppression orders.

He said the government had rejected suggestions from a parliamentary committee that
automatic suppression orders be applied to all court cases.

AAP tjd/lma

KEYWORD: SUPPRESSION

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