Non-Publication Orders in Abuse Matters

This topic has been addressed in two recent spheres. Each is descended to for the benefit of the reader.

First, the Honourable Justice Peter Applegarth AM – his Honour having recently retired – spoke on the issue at the Queensland Magistrates’ State Conference on 24 May 2024. The link may be found here.

Second, in BYM v Corporation of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane [No 1] [2023] QSC 298 (6 December 2023) – in the trial of a claim for damages for personal injury arising out of alleged sexual abuse said to have occurred in 1999 – her Honour made orders under section 194 of the Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld) suppressing the name of the plaintiff, and in turn the school where she was alleged to have been abused and also the names of the alleged perpetrator staff member, other staff members who gave evidence at trial and those of the plaintiff’s family. The judgment of Williams J, which extensively canvasses the authorities, may be found on this link.