[ad_1]
Australian journalist Avi Yemini has secured a prompt hearing in a proceeding against Victoria State Government officials for refusing a media pass to the Victoria State Parliament.
Avraham Shalom Yemini, Australian bureau chief of the Canadian media Rebel News, argued that he was unable to perform his duties as a journalist and needed to move ahead of the trial date scheduled for September next year.
A directional hearing is currently scheduled for March 9 at the Victorian Supreme Court.
Yemini was sent off from a public press conference by Victorian police on February 17, at the request of a private staff member of Victoria’s Prime Minister Daniel Andrews.
He hired prominent media lawyers for his legal team, including Justin Quill and barrister Will Horton QC. They recently challenged the Victorian police’s ban on aerial protest television broadcasts.
QC, on behalf of the client, said in a hearing Wednesday that an urgent judicial review of the matter was needed in light of next year’s state elections.
“We can’t fully emphasize that next year will be a big year for political news leading up to the November elections,” he says. Said..
“Sure, the general public in Victoria is well serviced by the mainstream media, but there is always room for alternatives and clients [parliamentary] Division. “
The court was told that Yemini applied for a media pass in March and followed up many times. In July, he received a reply that the application was not approved and said, “Media Pass will only be transferred to employees of accredited media organizations.”
“We are very strict about who we will provide the media pass to. The press gallery space is limited and obviously a building that requires strict security protocols,” read an email to Yemini. is.
Grin Ayers, on behalf of the three parliamentary officials sued by Yemini, refused, saying it did not affect Yemini’s reporting ability.
“He can still fully report and comment on the minutes of Congress. If he wants to talk to a member of parliament, he can approach him.”
Yemini told The Epoch Times that his team expects the case to be heard in March instead of September.
When asked about the defendant’s lawyer’s comments, he replied: Keeping rebel news away from Congressional press conferences was another poor attempt by the state. “
Justice Registrar Martin Keith agreed that it was important to hear the matter promptly and ordered both parties to submit the document by February.
follow
[ad_2]