Media Law Statutes

Question 1

ZXC vs Bloomberg 2020

Answer 1

A person that has simply come under suspicion has a ‘reasonable expectation of privacy’.

Question 2

Education Act 2002

Answer 2

It is illegal to identify a teacher accused of an offence against their pupil.

Question 3

Bail Act 1976

Answer 3

Sets out that a person must be granted bail unless certain conditions are met.

Question 4

Section 8C Magistrates Court Act 1980

Answer 4

Automatic Restrictions on Pre-Trial Hearings

Question 5

Section 52A Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Answer 5

Automatic Restrictions on Preliminary Hearings

Question 6

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Answer 6

Allows communication online via the Common Platform between defendants and magistrates in certain cases.

Question 7

Section 11 Criminal Justice Act 1987

Answer 7

Allows the inclusion of ‘relevant business information’ when reporting on a complex fraud case.

Question 8

Contempt of Court Act 1981

Answer 8

Strict Liability, any material creating a substantial risk of prejudice.

Question 9

Section 3 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981

Answer 9

Defence against strict liability if, having taken reasonable care, you were unaware that the published material was a breach.

Question 9

Section 4(1) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981

Answer 9

Reports of court hearings are protected from strict liability if they are contemporaneous, fair, accurate and published in good faith.

Question 10

Section 4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981

Answer 10

Gives a court power to postpone reports of proceedings, for example in the event of multiple trials.

Question 11

Section 5 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981

Answer 11

Defence discussion of public affairs, if the trial is not referenced.

Question 12

Section 9 of Contempt of court Act 1981

Answer 12

Bans audio recording in a court

Question 12

Section 41 of Criminal Justice Act 1925

Answer 12

Bans photography, filming and sketching in a court and precincts.

Question 13

Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022

Answer 13

Amends a 2003 Act to ban recording a hybrid/virtual hearing.

Question 14

Section 20D of Juries Act 1974

Answer 14

Makes Jury deliberations confidential.

Question 15

Section 11 of Contempt of Court Act 1981

Answer 15

A court can ban the publication of a name or other matter in cases of blackmail, state secrets, commercially sensitive information or to protect someone at risk of harm.

Question 16

Section 12 Administration of Justice Act 1960

Answer 16

Bans reporting on Private Court Hearings

Question 17

Section 46 of Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999

Answer 17

Can give lifetime anonymity to a witness in fear or distress.