3 years ago
UNIFORM DEFAMATION REFORM
MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Labor welcomes today’s agreement by Federal, State and Territory Attorneys-General to adopt improved, uniform defamation laws.
The new laws, when enacted, should strike a better balance between protecting reputations and freedom of expression, particularly when such debates are a matter of public interest.
The new laws should also help bring the 2006 uniform defamation laws into the digital age while protecting responsible public interest journalism.
The defamation reforms have been driven by the NSW Government, in stark contrast to the complete lack of energy shown by the Morrison Government to act on the urgent reforms to protect media freedom demanded by the Right To Know Coalition.
This is a Government that does not know where it stands on freedom of the press and the Australian public’s right to know.
Unlike the Attorney-General and Prime Minister, Labor will fight for freedom of the press and the public’s right to know. Journalists should not be prosecuted for doing their job.
A strong and independent media is vital to holding governments – and opposition parties – to account and Labor will continue to stand with journalists and the Right to Know Coalition to fight to defend and to strengthen press freedom.
The new laws, when enacted, should strike a better balance between protecting reputations and freedom of expression, particularly when such debates are a matter of public interest.
The new laws should also help bring the 2006 uniform defamation laws into the digital age while protecting responsible public interest journalism.
The defamation reforms have been driven by the NSW Government, in stark contrast to the complete lack of energy shown by the Morrison Government to act on the urgent reforms to protect media freedom demanded by the Right To Know Coalition.
This is a Government that does not know where it stands on freedom of the press and the Australian public’s right to know.
Unlike the Attorney-General and Prime Minister, Labor will fight for freedom of the press and the public’s right to know. Journalists should not be prosecuted for doing their job.
A strong and independent media is vital to holding governments – and opposition parties – to account and Labor will continue to stand with journalists and the Right to Know Coalition to fight to defend and to strengthen press freedom.