Community, stakeholders urged to contribute to defamation law reform

  • Community members and stakeholders are encouraged to have their say on Australia’s defamation laws
  • Feedback received will help to modernise nationally consistent defamation law
  • Submissions close on April 30, 2019 
  • Attorney General John Quigley is encouraging community members and stakeholders to have their say on the nation’s dated defamation laws.

    Last year the Council of Attorneys-General reconvened the Defamation Working Party to review the Model Defamation Provisions, which were enacted in each State and Territory.

    The Defamation Working Party has now released a discussion paper as part of the review process.

    The Defamation Working Party has invited feedback on the questions in the discussion paper and any related matters.

    A copy of the discussion paper and information about making a submission are available at https://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/defamationreview 

    As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:

    “Defamation law in Australia has not kept pace with rapid technological change and the rise of online publications.

    “This is an important area of the law and it’s high time we closely examine our existing defamation laws and update them accordingly.

    “This is a chance for the community and stakeholders to have a say about how defamation laws should operate in Australia and I encourage them to contribute to the review.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.