Edward Snowden's lawyer blasts Australian law that would jail journalists reporting on spy leaks

By Ben Grubb
Updated August 4 2014 - 11:13am, first published July 30 2014 - 6:54pm
ASIO chief David Irvine and Attorney-General Senator George Brandis are proposing new laws that would threaten ASIO whistleblowers and journalists with up to 10 years jail. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
ASIO chief David Irvine and Attorney-General Senator George Brandis are proposing new laws that would threaten ASIO whistleblowers and journalists with up to 10 years jail. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Edward Snowden's lawyer has labelled as "draconian" and "chilling" Abbott government legislation before parliament that would threaten ASIO leakers with 10 years' imprisonment and make it an offence for journalists to report on information they receive from whistleblowers.