'The public has a right to know': Lawyer weighs in on interim suppressions after Queensland law changes

Queensland's laws have changed allowing accused rapists and sex offenders to be named, however interim suppression orders have protected the identities of some high-profile cases.

Criminal lawyer Bill Potts told A Current Affair the changes today are welcome for victims given sex offences were the only charges where the accused maintained their anonymity.

But at least two high-profile cases have seen the accused's identities suppressed, despite the new law.

Potts said it wasn't a sign of transparency.

"The Supreme Court has granted interim gag orders because the legislation says that the actual gag orders, if there is to be a suppression, must be made by a magistrate," he said.

"The public has a right to know."

Potts said as the law comes into place, suppressions should only be granted in rare and exceptional cases.

"I think what we've seen is the beginning of a series of cases seeing where the law lies," he said.

Watch the full chat in the video player above.