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Chief Justice Dismisses Gag Order Transparency Claims

3/5/2026

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Story summary
  • Chief Justice Richard Niall dismissed claims that gag orders render Victoria's courts least transparent in Australia.
  • A Monash University analysis found 521 of 1,113 suppression orders in 2023.
  • Associate Professor Jason Bosland says the data is incomplete, covering only orders sent to media.
  • Tom Silvagni's case showed an 18-month suppression order preceded a rape conviction.
  • Reforms to the Open Courts Act were proposed, but Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny did not commit.