West Australian Newspapers and The West Australian editor Paul Armstrong have been fined after pleading guilty to contempt of court charges.
The charges resulted from a series of articles written in July 2004 that identified a child as a ward of state.
WA Newspapers was fined $15,000 and Mr Armstrong $5,000, with both ordered to pay costs for the case, which was brought by Attorney-General Jim McGinty.
The Supreme Court of Western Australia’s Court of Appeal had discretion over penalties and could have imposed imprisonment, but took into account Mr Armstrong’s lack of prior convictions, and penalties imposed in the past for contempt.
However, the court said it was relevant to consider that The West Australian had wide publication in the state and that the newspaper’s action had “a tendency to cause notoriety for the child, who had been clearly identified”.
Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance WA branch president, David Cohen, said the fact that Mr Armstrong had pleaded guilty was a public admission of wrongdoing.
“The alliance applauds this action and cautions that the temptation to sensationalise news to sell more newspapers must always be balanced against the need to protect basic human rights, including the rights of children,” Mr Cohen said.
It is believed Mr Armstrong’s contract as editor of The West Australian was recently renewed for one year.
Mr Armstrong was not present at the delivery of judgment and is understood to be in London.
A phone call to West Australian Newspapers Holdings Limited managing director and chief executive Ian Law was not returned by the time WA Business News went to press.
The most recent conviction of WA Newspapers for contempt was in 1996, where it was fined $25,000 for causing the Rothwells trial to be aborted after publish-ing prior convictions of Laurie Connell.
Then editor Paul Murray was fined $5,000.
