The jail sentence of almost six years handed down to whistleblower David McBride today represents a shameful day for the public's right to know and shows the need for urgent reforms to protect whistleblowers from prosecution.
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance says the sentence in the ACT Supreme Court would have a chilling effect preventing future disclosures to journalists about matters that are in the public interest.
MEAA Media Director Michelle Rae said McBride had been jailed for sharing documents with journalists that revealed allegations that Australian soldiers were involved in illegal killings in Afghanistan.
"We respect the judge's decision but it should never have come to this," she said.
"This reporting was clearly in the public interest but the punishment given today is far in excess of any perceived wrongdoing.
"The prosecution has never proven that the disclosures have had any detrimental impact on Australa's national security or its security relationships with other countries.
"Without whistleblowers working with journalists, corruption and wrongdoing is allowed to flourish.
"With Australia having slipped to 39th on global press freedom rankings, governments at all levels must commit to protecting whistleblowers and journalists.
"A mature democracy does not shy away from scrutiny and the public has a right to know what its government does.
"It is time our political leaders truly embraced transparency and accountability."
