"Mr Donaldson (Independent National Security Legislation Monitor) was scathing in his final report saying this should never happen again, that a person be charged, sentenced and jailed in complete secrecy."

The National Security Legislation Monitor is now conducting a review of the entire National Security Information Act at the direction of the Albanese government.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said that he welcomed the court's decision to make the sentencing remarks public and that he had previously requested they be made public.

"While it is always a matter for the court to determine what is published, court proceedings, including judgements and reasons, should be as open as possible whilst ensuring national security information is protected," he said in a statement.

"The former government agreed to an unprecedented level of secrecy in the prosecution of 'Alan Johns' resulting in wholly closed criminal proceedings.

"This is not consistent with the rule of law and open justice."
ABC
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