Assange’s Release Sparks Call for Protection of Whistleblowers

In light of Julian Assange’s release, an intelligence watchdog has called for urgent changes to the nation’s secrecy laws to protect journalists and whistleblowers handling sensitive information. Jake Blight, Australia’s Independent National Security Legislation Monitor and one of Australia’s most experienced national security lawyers, stated that unclear regulations can negatively affect the role of a free press. “Excessively wide or uncertain secrecy laws can undermine trust in government and unreasonably impact the important role of a free press and civil society groups,” Mr. Blight said in his review on secrecy laws handed down on June 27. He highlighted that current definitions of offending are too imprecise, and stressed the need to avoid broad terms such as information relating to “the functioning of government.”...