What is ethics like in Australian media?

When it come to media law and ethics, I know that it is illegal to publish the names or identities of children in the media if they have benn sexually abused. But what if the child who was sexually abused was also murdered? Can you identify them then?

• Answer:

  I'm not aware of any blanket legal prohibition that forbids a news organization from releasing the identity of abused children (although there may be particular court orders that only apply to specific children). It's my understanding that not identifying minors (either victims or perpetrators), or victims of sexual assault (of any age) is a policy decision most news outlets make in order to protect the victim from being ostracized or further damaged psychologically. Since a murdered child cannot be harmed any further, I don't believe any such policy of non-disclosure would apply.