Proposed changes to make it an offence to not report a filmed act of animal cruelty will criminalise both journalists and everyday Australians, major media groups warn.
In a submission to a Senate inquiry on amendments to the criminal code, the organisations as well as the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance say the changes would deter whistleblowers and reporters from documenting incidences of cruelty.
Liberal senator Chris Back has introduced a private bill that aims to make it an offence to record an incident of domestic animal cruelty and to then not report it to the authorities within one business day.
Media organisations, including News Corp Australia and Fairfax Media, are concerned that could lead to people who might otherwise film acts deciding not to, or instead destroying their footage.
"The overall effect of the bill is therefore likely to be a lessening of exposure of potential issues of public interest and debate around the treatment of animals," they say in their submission.
The position became further complicated if a journalist was approached by a source who because they had not reported a recording was the subject of a police investigation.
The changes would not only affect journalists, but create an "unprecedented duty, at pain of criminal sanction" on all Australians, they said.
"This is a draconian measure targeted at lay persons and unmatched in any other area of law including suspicions of terrorist activity or other significant matters."
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