If you have been charged with a criminal offence and are awaiting trial or sentencing, you may apply to the court for an order suppressing publication of your name.
An order for a permanent suppression is difficult to get. It is used sparingly as there is a strong presumption by the court that it is in the public interest to make the names available.
The courts will usually grant a permanent suppression order only if publishing your name would directly lead to identifying a complainant, such as in the case of incest or other forms of sexual abuse.
The guidelines for when judges may exercise their discretion to order name suppression are set out in the CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1985.
The court may, however, grant a temporary order preventing publication of your name for a limited period of time (say, 48 hours). Where temporary orders are granted, it is usually to give defendants the opportunity to inform family, friends or their employers of their situation.
The effect of an order is that all publication of your name, address or occupation is prohibited. A person who breaches the order faces a fine of up to $1,000.
Under the LAND TRANSPORT ACT 1998, the names of drivers convicted on alcohol- or drug-related offences may not be suppressed.