MEAA welcomes court decision on Rinehart-Ferguson costs and calls for national shield laws

The union representing journalists has welcomed the decision of the Western Australia Supreme Court to force mining magnate Gina Rinehart to pay the costs incurred by Fairfax journalist Adele Feguson in a legal battle over her sources.

Rinehart had taken action against Ferguson in an attempt to subpoena her to produce recordings, texts, notes and emails, however in August last year, Justice Pritchard dismissed the case.

Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance federal secretary Christopher Warren welcomed the court decision but said it underscored the need for new national shield laws. “The court’s decision underscores the need to acknowledge and respect journalist privilege in relation to the journalists’ ethical requirement to refuse to disclose their confidential sources,” said Warren.

“But it is a principle that still needs to be properly enshrined in law across Australia. And that will require uniform national shield laws which is not the case at the moment.”