SA: Open courts to filming: Premier Rann

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
SA: Open courts to filming: Premier Rann

ADELAIDE, Aug 17 AAP - Criminal trials could be filmed and photographed under a proposal
by South Australian Premier Mike Rann to open the court system to greater public scrutiny.

Mr Rann has urged judicial officers to consider allowing filming inside courts, believing
the South Australians deserve to see what happens in courts.

The proposal has been delivered to the state's chief judicial officers.

Currently, no filming or photography is permitted inside a court building in SA.

"This proposal doesn't allow the media free reign within the courts system but it does
allow them to film the relevant aspects of criminal trials which are of public importance,"

Mr Rann said in a statement on Monday.

"No doubt issues such as what parts of the trial can be filmed, the number of cameras
allowed in a courtroom and the application process for media to film will need to be discussed
at length before there is agreement on all of the details."

AAP sl/ash/de

KEYWORD: COURTS

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