Bill
Illegal Detention of Australian Journalists (Free Julian Assange) Bill 2021
lapsed, as at 2021-11-29. (s) CHRISTENSEN, George, MP portfolio.
- Sponsor
- George Christensen
- Portfolio
- (s) CHRISTENSEN, George, MP
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2021-11-29
- other — 2021-11-29
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2021-11-29.
The bill would create new criminal offences to protect Australian journalists from being detained or prosecuted by foreign governments for doing legitimate journalism.
It would make a foreign head of government liable for up to seven years in prison if their government detains an Australian journalist or asks another government to do so.
The bill would also require the immediate release of any Australian journalist transferred to Australian custody under a prisoner transfer agreement.
- Creates an offence for a foreign head of government who detains an Australian journalist or requests another government to do so.
- Makes agents of a foreign government, including private security contractors and intelligence agencies, liable for the same offence.
- Defines 'journalism' to include publishing and passively receiving information that would not be an offence in Australia.
- Provides that detention for an ancillary violation, such as a bail breach, is taken to be because of legitimate journalistic activity.
- Requires immediate release of an Australian journalist transferred to Commonwealth custody.
- Deems the conduct alleged against Julian Assange as editor of WikiLeaks to be regular journalistic activity.
Australian journalists and foreign governments, including their heads, agents, and private contractors.
Sources
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