A journalist in South Australia has been forced to reveal 'off the record' communications with a public official during a misconduct investigation prompted by a complaint to the state's Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC).

Unlike most other Australian states and the Commonwealth, South Australia has no shield laws to let journalists legally protect their sources.

SA's Labor Government has rejected a push from the Liberal Opposition for such laws.

The state's highly secretive ICAC has the power to compel witnesses to give evidence and produce documentation, under threat of hefty fines or jail.

It is an offence to disclose any details during an ICAC investigation.

The complaint to the ICAC was referred to South Australia's Ombudsman Wayne Lines in May for investigation.

He found Unley Councillor Bob Schnell committed misconduct by providing the journalist with information about a confidential meeting.

In his response to the investigation, the councillor said the meeting had not been flagged as confidential in his email calendar request, was held in a "bar area" which did not have a door which could be closed and there was no mention during it of confidentiality.

Councillor 'ought reasonably have known'

The Ombudsman found the elected member ought reasonably to have known the information was confidential because it was legal advice and discussed the personal details of elected members by name and whether any should declare a conflict of interest.

The meeting, last February, was arranged by council staff so the elected members could be briefed by lawyers about potential conflicts of interest relating to a development plan amendment for the Unley Central project.

The Ombudsman recommended the councillor undertake training on the issue of confidentiality, apologise in person at a council meeting for disclosing the information and be reprimanded by the council in a public statement.

The Ombudsman noted Councillor Schnell tried to keep his own email correspondence about the meeting confidential by marking it "off the record" and "don't disclose this source" when he communicated with the journalist.

The Media Alliance's Journalist Code of Ethics states that reporters should "aim to attribute information to its source".

"Where a source seeks anonymity, do not agree without first considering the source's motives and any alternative attributable source," it states.

"Where confidences are accepted, respect them in all circumstances."

The journalist's solicitor requested it be made clear in the Ombudsman's report that the reporter only revealed their source because of the requirements of the Ombudsman Act and the ICAC Act.