A magistrate has rejected the media's application to attend the court appearance of three Sunshine Coast children charged over the alleged assault of a 13-year-old girl last month.
Three girls, aged 12, 13 and 14, were charged with deprivation of liberty and assault after allegedly holding a 13-year-old girl against her will at a home in the Noosa region.
The case was due before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Representatives from four media organisations, including the ABC, applied to sit in on the closed court proceedings on the basis that the matter was in the public interest.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist rejected the application, referring to the 2019 decision of Magistrate Stephanie Tonkin in the case of two teenagers charged with arson following the Peregian fires.
Magistrate Tonkin also denied the media's application to attend proceedings.
"Certainly, the level of extra-curial punishment and concern that has manifested in the community ... is more serious than that experienced by the children in the Peregian fires," Magistrate Stjernqvist said.
"The defendants that were subject to that court process were young ... the children here today are younger.
"The presumption of innocence still applies."
Magistrate Stjernqvist told the court the "outrage in the community" had been "particularly detrimental to vulnerable and young children".
He said he wasn't satisfied that the media's presence would not be prejudicial to the case.
"Fundamentally, this court is a closed court ... and it is always a closed court until such time as there is an application for the media to be present," the magistrate said.
"And that application is not granted today."
