The Queensland Opposition leader has called for a review a 132-year-old law which allowed a court to close "in the interests of morality".
Pine Rivers Magistrate Michael Morgan denied media and public access to a hearing involving a man, 26 accused of abducting a girl, 7, from a shopping centre north of Brisbane on Saturday.
The man has been charged with taking a girl for immoral purposes, deprivation of liberty and indecent treatment of a child under 12.
But his court appearances this week were shrouded in secrecy after Mr Morgan closed the court citing a provision from the Justices Act, first drafted in 1886.
Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said the court system needs to be "as open as possible" to ensure confidence in the justice system.
"We know we need to protect our victims and our witnesses wherever possible, but this is a piece of legislation that is over a century old and time has moved on," Ms Freckington said.
"With the advent of social media we see details of these cases everywhere online and yet our journalists and their trusted sources can't report on those cases.
"Justice wherever possible must been seen to be done."
Queensland Council for Civil Liberties vice-president Terry O'Gorman was also concerned by the role of social media and said the law needed to "catch up".
He said that while mainstream media was bound to obey the law but social media sites were "ablaze" with details.
Mr O'Gorman went further and said the identity of accused sex offenders should be protected until they are found guilty, to prevent innocent people from being bashed in jail.
He says if the complainant in sexual offences is entitled to anonymity, the accused "should be afforded that same right".
"For two reasons - if the accused is in jail and named there is an increased risk of being bashed by other prisoners who regard people who abuse children with contempt and disgust," Mr O'Gorman said.
"If you are not in jail and remain in the community on bail, the mud forever sticks even if you are not convicted."
Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk refused to be drawn on the issue.
"I understand it's an extremely sensitive matter and that is why we need to respect the independence of the judiciary", she said.
