Media Urges Victoria to Reform Suppression Orders

0:00Here's more sending news from March 4th. Major media outlets in Victoria have united to urge the Attorney General to reform laws on court suppression orders. Groups like the age, the Australian, Harold Sun, the Guardian, ABC, and commercial networks sent a letter to Sonya Kilkenning. They argue that too many orders, especially our mental health grounds, are hiding defendants names and crimes from the public. This push comes amid a rise in high-profile cases where defendants claim publishing their identities would harm their mental health. The Open Courts Act allows suppression to protect safety, but critics say it's being stretched too far. The opposition is also eyeing changes to tighten these rules. Victims feel betrayed by the system. One woman, whose rapist state anonymous through his trial, said it seemed unfair to prioritize his mental health over her justice. Shadow Attorney General James Newberry agrees, noting victims' voices get silenced while every serious charge stresses defendants anyway.

1:01Recent examples highlight the trend. A football family member got 18 months of anonymity before a rape conviction. A former counselor charged with drugging and raping a teen still has protection. Other cases involve a lawyer convicted of assault and a young driver linked to an AFL player. Experts say the law should rarely allow mental health suppressions, but claims are easy to make and hard to challenge. The media proposes clarifying that safety means real physical risks, not just mental strain. Kilkenny stresses balancing open justice with fair trials and courts defend their rare use of orders. The Daily News Now is powered by our sponsor, Lincoln the Description. It is a pillow that plays your podcasts and music without earbuds, built for listening