In this columnist's view, the shield law is a bad idea for another reason: By granting a special legal privilege to journalists, it would make them beholden to the federal government.

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Now five international media organisations have supported his stand, urging the tribunal "to recognize a qualified privilege for journalists not to be compelled to testify about their news gathering before this court unless certain conditions are met - namely that the information is absolutely essential to the case and that it cannot be obtained by any other means".

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Item 23: Journalists must not accept any privilege or position that will influence their professional performance in disseminating correct and comprehensive information.

UNESCO: Communication and Information

The judge overseeing the leak case of Lewis Scooter Libby has rejected journalists' claims of reporters' privilege.

NPR: Journalists' Documents Sought in CIA Leak Case

Ellis rejected arguments by the city that Florentine Films and filmmakers Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns were not independent journalists entitled to reporter's privilege.

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So mentions like John Hemming's are protected by absolute privilege as far as MPs are concerned, under Article 9 of the Bill of Rights, and by the normal "qualified privilege" as far as journalists are concerned.

BBC: Parliamentary privilege, MPs and super-injunctions