Parliament to debate prosecution of Hun journalists

Next Monday the House of Representatives will debate the pursuit of Herald Sun journalists Harvey and McManus for exposing its intention to largely ignore the Clarke review of veteran’s entitlements.

The motion by Martin Ferguson and Craig Emerson reaffirms the right of journalists, as provided by their code of ethics, not to reveal their sources.

Rather than a vendetta against a public servant and the pursuit of journalists, the Howard Government should apologise for attempting to deny $500 million in extra pensions to veterans and war widows.

The Howard Government should expedite law reform to protect journalists professional confidences and withdraw the vindictive pursuit of a public servant so as to avoid the potential imprisonment of journalists for printing a story that was clearly in the public interest.