Former senator wins bid to open parts of hearing over alleged 2004 Timor-Leste spy mission
Transparency advocate Rex Patrick secures ART ruling against government bid to bar public from open hearing sessions
Former senator Rex Patrick has won a legal battle in the Administrative Review Tribunal, forcing the Australian government to hold unclassified parts of a hearing in public over allegations that Australian spies bugged Timor-Leste's government offices during oil and gas negotiations in 2004. The three-day hearing is scheduled for late November. The Commonwealth had argued the matter was so sensitive that even the public portions of the proceeding should be held behind closed doors.