Teachers, lawyers and social workers will soon be free to speak out about mistreatment in Australia's immigration detention centres without risking two years behind bars.
Controversial secrecy rules preventing whistleblowers divulging information about detainee neglect and abuse have been watered down, clearing the Senate on Monday.
Cabinet minister Michaelia Cash said the retrospective changes would better balance open and transparent governance with preventing the unauthorised disclosure of harmful information.
Greens Senator Nick McKim said the changes were not made out of compassion or humanity but to save the humiliation of having the laws struck out in the High Court.
Doctors for Refugees and the Fitzroy Legal Centre have brought a constitutional challenge against the laws, claiming they breach freedom of political communication, and the case remains afoot.
Senator McKim said the backdown meant a veil of secrecy over Australia's onshore and offshore detention network had been lifted.
"It prevented many people from speaking out about what they'd witnessed, including many who had a professional or moral obligation to do so," he told parliament.
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