Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

That is rather extraordinary, because that is not a hypothetical case. So I will put another one to you. In submission No. 12, the Guardianwho do a lot of national security reporting, as you would be well aware—note on page 8 of their submission:

Of the 20 public reports of the Inspector-General (as at 31 July 2014), nine appear to have been triggered directly or indirectly by media disclosures.

The unfortunate case of Dr Mohamed Haneef was largely brought to light by the media.

That is a case that has well and truly run its course. It is not something that is going to be brought before the courts. I wonder, Attorney, whether you could outline for us whether reporting of that case—strongly, clearly and unambiguously in the public interest—would have been illegal if an SIO had been in place at the time of those events.