Under what circumstances can journalists be excluded from council meetings?

Journalists can be excluded from council meetings when certain information is designated as 'confidential' or 'exempt'. This typically pertains to sensitive matters that, if discussed in public, could infringe upon privacy rights, reveal commercially sensitive details, or relate to legal proceedings. The exclusion is grounded in transparency laws designed to balance public interest with the necessity to protect certain types of information from public disclosure.

Meetings may have specific items on the agenda that are classified under rules, such as those found in the Local Government Act or Freedom of Information regulations, which allow for private discussions. This ensures that while the principles of openness in government are upheld, there are controlled mechanisms to safeguard crucial confidential information from being exposed prematurely or inappropriately.