Date Time Contempt case highlights Queensland’s shield law delay The prosecution of a Queensland journalist for refusing to reveal a confidential source highlights the urgent need for the Palaszczuk government to follow through on an election promise to introduce a journalist “shield” law. The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), the union for Australia’s journalists, says the public’s right to know depends on whistleblowers and other sources having confidence that their identity will be kept anonymous when they deal with a journalist on a sensitive story. While the Queensland Government promised at last year’s election to introduce a shield law, until it does so other journalists also face prosecution if they maintain their ethical obligations not to reveal the identity of a confidential source.