Two experts were set to support McBride’s case,but commonwealth lawyers sought to have their testimony quashed under public interest immunity laws.
The laws suppress information that would prejudice the public interest if they were made public.
McBride said there was little prospect of success without their evidence.
“The government played the national security card to the absolute hilt,” he told media outside the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday.
His lawyer Mark Davis said it’s common for sensitive material – such as what may have been included by the two experts – to come before the courts.
The judge has the power to then close the court to the public and media.
“If I could show it to you,the material is not that controversial,” Mr Davis told media.