Australian lawmakers have proposed a new law that would allow journalists to conceal the identity of their sources, The Associated Press reported. Currently, journalists risk being jailed for contempt of court if they attempt to protect their sources' identity.

The first time Parliament convened since last month's elections, Andrew Wilkie introduced the bill, and Attorney General Robert McClelland said that his center-left government will support the bill, the AP specified. It would allow journalists to refuse to identify their sources in court, and McClelland told reporters at Parliament House that "we will start from the premise that the court will presume that the confidentiality of the journalist's source is protected," the AP said.

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