Access to Victoria's parliament is a privilege not a right, says a lawyer defending the rejection of a media pass for a conservative activist and political commentator.
Avi Yemini, the Australian bureau chief for Canadian far-right website Rebel News, is suing over a decision to refuse him media accreditation to allow him entry to both houses of state parliament, the building and its surrounds.
Yemini, whose lawyers describe him as a member of the "new media", have argued in Victoria's Supreme Court that he was denied procedural fairness when his accreditation application was rejected last year.
He has brought a case against upper house president Nazih Elasmar, lower house speaker Colin Brooks and Serjeant-At-Arms Paul Groenewegen.
But Chris Horan QC, representing the trio, said all cases for access were a matter of privilege.
"There's no right or entitlement of journalists or anybody else to have access to any part of the parliamentary precinct," he said.
"That doesn't detract from the importance of freedom of the press or reporting on parliament, but the decision not to give a media pass is, of itself, not inconsistent with the freedom of expression or reporting of political activities."
Justice Tim Ginnane suggested there were different rules for members of the "old media" - organisations who have historically been granted access and accreditation.
But Mr Horan insisted decisions were made on a case-by-case, saying even accredited organisations would have limits on the number of yearly accreditation passes based on things like the capacity in the parliamentary press gallery offices.
The commentator's lawyer Will Houghton QC said Yemini, who wasn't given reasons for the refusal of his application, was denied procedural fairness by not being given the chance to share his side of the story.
The hearing is continuing.
