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Media Release - 15 February 2008 - Broadcast of 'Underbelly' Television Program - Further Prohibition Order

As noted in an earlier Media Release, Justice Betty King made a Prohibition Order on 12 February 2008 prohibiting Channel 9 from broadcasting the proposed 'Underbelly' television programme in Victoria in the near future.

Pursuant to an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Justice Betty King today issued a further Order in relation to the same matter. There are important differences between the original Order and the new Order which Justice King has issued today.

The Director of Public Prosecutions reminds all media outlets, and other persons or organisations who may be affected by this Order, to take careful note of its terms.

The order provides as follows;

1. The transmission, publication, broadcasting or exhibiting of the production referred to as 'Underbelly' be prohibited in the State of Victoria until after the completion of the trial and verdict in the matter of R v A.
   
   
2. Direct that the television series referred to as 'Underbelly' not be published on the internet in Victoria and the 'Family Tree site - inside the Underbelly, which looks at the evolving relationships between the key characters', be prohibited until after the completion of the trial and verdict in the matter of R v A.

There are further clauses in the Order (which cannot be reproduced here), but which prohibit any publication of the identity of a person who is the subject of a forthcoming trial (referred to in the Order as 'R v A').

Any queries should be directed to the Office of Public Prosecutions Media Liaison Unit.