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NSW to push for changes to defamation laws

NSW's attorney-general wants Australia's defamation laws to be more "tech-savvy" following a review tabled in state parliament on Thursday.

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Source: AAP


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NSW is pushing for changes to defamation laws across Australia to better deal with content posted on social media, blogs and other online publications.

Attorney-General Mark Speakman said the laws needed to be more "tech-savvy" following an extensive review tabled in state parliament on Thursday.

It has made more than a dozen recommendations, including introducing a 'serious harm' threshold to discourage trivial matters from going to court.

It has also suggested there be defences available for internet sites, such as online newspapers and blogs, so that authors - rather than hosts - are held responsible for the publication of defamatory material, including in comment boards.

States and territories should also consider whether restrictions on the ability for corporations to sue for defamation should be amended.

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Defamation laws have been co-ordinated at a national level since 2005.

Mr Speakman will urge federal, state and territory attorneys general to help bring Australia's defamation laws up to date with the "cyber-age" at a meeting in Perth on Friday.

"It is important all Australian jurisdictions work closely to ensure we strike the right balance between freedom of expression, publication of material in the public interest and protecting individual's reputations," he said in a statement.


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