Broadcaster to challenge suppression orders

Broadcaster Derryn Hinch has won the right to argue before a full bench of the High Court that suppression orders he allegedly breached are constitutionally invalid.

New Zealand-born Hinch is charged with breaching court suppression orders by naming two sex offenders at a victims of crime rally in 2008 and on his website.

He appeared in the High Court in Melbourne on Friday when his lawyers asked to move his case from the Magistrates Court to the High Court so he could challenge the orders.

Hinch's barrister David Bennett QC said the orders, made under the Victorian Serious Sex Offenders Monitoring Act 2005, contravened the notion that courts should be open to the public.

``This is a case where the whole exercise is about constitutionality,'' he said.

``It's a very serious attack by the legislation on the fundamental nature of the court system.''

A date for the hearing has not been set.

Outside court, Hinch told reporters the outcome was ``very good news''.

``It's a privilege and it's an honour to get to the High Court, which we've achieved today,'' he said.

``The whole issue is public interest and I still believe the suppression orders are too strong in the state of Victoria.

``It becomes an issue of freedom of speech, that the criminals get too much attention, that the public's interest is not served.

``This means at least now we get to the High Court to argue that some of the decisions by our courts are wrong.

``We have situations where police cannot even release the picture or the name of a convicted rapist or paedophile until they go to court and get permission.

``Now that is wrong in any state. It's madness. This is one step along the way to the High Court to see if something can be done.''

- AAP