[LINK] ethics above the law?

[Kim Holburn]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1846038.htm

> Journalists plead guilty to contempt in federal leak case
>
> Two journalists have pleaded guilty to contempt for refusing to  
> reveal their source of a leaked story on proposed cuts to war  
> veterans' benefits.
>
> News Corp journalists Gerard Harvey and Gerard McManus have pleaded  
> guilty in the Melbourne County Court for refusing to disclose who  
> leaked documents to them in 2004.
>
> The documents detailed the Federal Government's plan to slash  
> payments to war veterans.
>
> They refused to give evidence in the pre-trial hearing of public  
> servant Desmond Kelly, who was found guilty of leaking confidential  
> information, a conviction later quashed by the Court of Appeal.
>
> Lawyer William Houghton, QC, today asked the judge not to punish  
> the journalists, saying it would deter future whistleblowers.
>
> But Judge Rozenes accused the journalists of putting their ethics  
> above the law, and asked how any court is expected to tolerate that.

He admitted the journalists acted ethically?

> He will hand down his decision at a later date.


--
Kim Holburn
IT Network & Security Consultant
Ph: +39 06 855 4294  M: +39 3342707610
mailto:kim at holburn.net  aim://kimholburn
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Democracy imposed from without is the severest form of tyranny.
                           -- Lloyd Biggle, Jr. Analog, Apr 1961