The case against former spy Witness K and lawyer Bernard Collaery has been adjourned until Mr Porter makes a call on national security information.

A decision about how evidence in the case could compromise national security will affect how further information is heard in court.

If Mr Porter rules national security is at stake by information being public, then further hearings could be all closed.

Even defence lawyers might be unable to sit in court because they would not have a security clearance.

Witness K and Mr Collaery are charged with revealing information about Australia bugging East Timor's cabinet rooms in 2004 during negotiations over a gas and oil treaty.

Mr Porter gave the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions permission to lay criminal charges this year.

The matter was back in ACT Magistrates Court on Friday after Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker had adjourned to consider new information put forward on Wednesday.

But she ruled the case be put on hold until Mr Porter declares his intentions around provisions in the National Security Information Act.

Defence lawyers Christopher Ward SC and Haydn Carmichael and Ms Walker were only told on Tuesday, a day before the case's second airing in court, that provisions in the act might become relevant.

The opposing legal teams have been at loggerheads about what national security information can be made public and have been unable to find any middle ground.

The defence has argued as much of the trial as possible should be open, stating most of the information that is alleged to affect national security has already been made public.

The Australian Lawyers Alliance says there is no public interest in the case proceeding at all, but an open and transparent court process is integral to the legal system.

"An open court is usually an essential component of a fair trial and we believe it is required for the defence to be able to properly exercise their right to defend themselves," ALA spokesman Greg Barns said in a statement.

Witness K and Mr Collaery are yet to appear in court, instead being represented by their respective lawyers Mr Carmichael and Dr Ward.

A vocal advocate against the prosecution of the pair, Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick said he does not trust Mr Porter to make a sensible decision.

"The government has demonstrated incompetence in relation to its national security judgement, often wrapping embarrassing, but unclassified, information in the national flag," Senator Patrick said.

Greens Senator Nick McKim and MPs Rebekha Sharkie and Andrew Wilkie are other federal politicians to criticise the handling of the case against the pair.

Australian Associated Press