Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue and other celebrities may be able to keep embarrassing photos and personal details out of the media under proposed new laws.
Media outlets are on notice after it was revealed the Rudd Government is considering a new privacy regime that may prevent them taking unauthorised pictures of people in public places or disclosing personal information.
The laws will be backed by stiff court-imposed penalties.
Media who dwell on the private lives of stars, like trash magazines, Who Weekly and Famous, as well as newspaper gossip columns and tabloid TV programs will be hardest hit by the plan.
The new regime is expected to be part of an Australian Law Reform Commission report that is being considered by Special Minister of State John Faulkner.
Legal experts in the field expect if the laws are adopted they would have a significant impact.
Stuart Littlemore QC told News Limited that gossip magazines would be affected by the new laws because “if it’s not an invasion of privacy they’re not interested in it”.
In response to the report Privacy Foundation spokesperson Nigel Waters said the media need to practice some self-regulation and restrict reporting to instances where there is a genuine public interest.
The report comes only two years after the Howard Government tightened defamation laws further restricting the media.
Senator Faulkner’s office is remaining tight-lipped on the Government’s response to the report – but expects to release it in four weeks.
The proposed law changes come after a much publicised defamation case involving Nicole Kidman and Sydney photographer Jamie Fawcett.
Ironically, in that case it was photographer who sued the Sun Herald for claims he had harassed the Hollywood actor.
Kidman sensationally gave evidence at the trial.