Prime Minister John Key at his post-cabinet press conference yesterday alluded to the fact that he knew the identity of the musician convicted of indecent acts recently.

While I have opined on this topic already, the fact that our nation's top politician knows (probably via his teenage kids) as to who this person is will put pressure on National to change our suppression laws. Already Justice Minister Simon Power has indicated that he is open to the idea of changing them.

Frankly, I don't know who this person is. I have to contrast this with the recent treatment meted out to former Split Enz member Phil Judd. He was convicted in an Australian court earlier this year of stalking a young schoolgirl near his home in the state of Victoria. While his conviction only came to light recently, a local newspaper exercised some good journalistic nous and interviewed Judd who confessed to his crime. Judd received a two year suspended prison sentence and was fined $2500. No celebrity favouritism was shown here!

While Split Enz are no longer performing together, any future reunion (even a one off) might be minus Judd. The very fact that he has a conviction for child stalking against his name will make his former fellow band members weary of including him. While it would be a shame, any such move would still send the message that child abuse of any kind cannot be tolerated, regardless of whom the perpetrator might be.

I am afraid that the New Zealand muso might have taken the hint that any public revelation of his identity could have killed his career. Too bad! While I am not opposed to any move to have him undergo counselling and rehabilitation, he should still suffer the consequences. Even though he was drunk on the night of the offending, this should not diminish his responsibility in any way, shape or form.

That's why I would still be pleased to see his name suppression lifted. While, as I have said, I don't know his identity yet (and perhaps that is something of a triumph for our suppression laws), I wouldn't (and nor would this website owner) risk the legal consequences of naming him. The fact that the current suppression law is an ass wouldn't help anyone's defence either.

Therefore, I'm asking that Simon Power make the reform of our suppression laws a top priority. If this Government is serious about law and order, then it should clear some time on the Parliamentary timetable in 2010 for new name suppression laws to be introduced and enacted before the 2011 election.

Then our freedom to know would be enhanced.

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