Parliament has been urged not to proceed with plans to give automatic name suppression in sex crime hearings.
The Justice and Electoral Select Committee is hearing submissions on the Criminal Procedure Reform and Modernisation Bill which aims to reduce unnecessary court appearances.
The legislation is expected to save the Government $25 million over five years.
The Media Freedom Committee told the select committee on Thursday that name suppression should be used sparingly.
Its secretary Tim Pankhurst said the bill will make it difficult to alert the community to people who have abused under 18-year-olds in their care.
Mr Pankhurst says that could result in victims not coming forward because they do not learn their abuser also abused others.
