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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
CIVIL LAW (WRONGS) AMENDMENT BILL 2005 (NO 2)
2005
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL
TERRITORY
(As presented)
(Attorney-General)
Civil Law
(Wrongs) Amendment Bill 2005 (No 2)
Contents
Page
Part 1.1 Crimes Act
1900 41
Part 1.2 Limitation
Act 1985 43
2005
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL
TERRITORY
(As presented)
(Attorney-General)
Civil Law (Wrongs)
Amendment Bill 2005 (No 2)
A Bill for
An Act to amend the
Civil Law (Wrongs) Act
2002, and for other purposes
The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as
follows:
This Act is the Civil Law (Wrongs) Amendment Act 2005 (No
2).
This Act commences on the day after its notification day.
Note The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence
on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).
This Act amends the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002.
Note 1 This Act also amends the following legislation (see sch
1):
• Crimes Act 1900
• Limitation Act 1985.
Note 2 This Act also repeals the Defamation (Criminal
Proceedings) Act 2001 (see s 23).
substitute
Chapter 9 Defamation
Part 9.1 Preliminary
115 Objects of ch 9
The objects of this chapter are—
(a) to enact provisions to promote uniform laws of defamation in
Australia; and
(b) to ensure that the law of defamation does not place unreasonable
limits on freedom of expression and, in particular, on the publication and
discussion of matters of public interest and importance; and
(c) to provide effective and fair remedies for persons whose reputations
are harmed by the publication of defamatory matter; and
(d) to promote speedy and non-litigious methods of resolving disputes
about the publication of defamatory matter.
Note The Human Rights Act 2004 provides for the following
human rights that are particularly relevant to this chapter:
• privacy and reputation (see s 12)
• freedom of expression (see s 16).
Under the Human Rights Act 2004, s 28 human rights may be subject
only to reasonable limits set by territory laws that can be demonstrably
justified in a free and democratic society.
116 Definitions for ch 9
In this chapter:
aggrieved person, for division 9.3.1 (Offers to make
amends)—see section 124.
Australian court means any court established by or under a
law of an Australian jurisdiction (including a court conducting committal
proceedings for an indictable offence).
Australian jurisdiction means—
(a) a State; or
(b) the Commonwealth.
Note State includes the Northern Territory (see Legislation
Act, dict, pt 1).
Australian tribunal means any tribunal (other than a court)
established by or under a law of an Australian jurisdiction that has the power
to take evidence from witnesses before it on oath (including a royal commission
or other special commission of inquiry).
Note Oath includes affirmation and take an oath
includes make an affirmation (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).
country includes—
(a) a federation and a state, territory, province or other part of a
federation; and
(b) an Australian jurisdiction.
document means any record of information, and
includes—
(a) anything on which there is writing; and
(b) anything on which there are marks, figures, symbols or perforations
having a meaning for persons qualified to interpret them; and
(c) anything from which sounds, images or writings can be reproduced with
or without the aid of anything else; and
(d) a map, plan, drawing or photograph.
electronic communication includes a communication of
information in the form of data, text, images or sound (or any combination of
these) by means of guided or unguided electromagnetic energy, or both.
general law means the common law and equity.
matter includes—
(a) an article, report, advertisement or other thing communicated by means
of a newspaper, magazine or other periodical; and
(b) a program, report, advertisement or other thing communicated by means
of television, radio, the internet or any other form of electronic
communication; and
(c) a letter, note or other writing; and
(d) a picture, gesture or oral utterance; and
(e) any other thing by means of which something may be communicated to a
person.
matter in question, for division 9.3.1 (Offers to make
amends)—see section 124.
offer to make amends means an offer to make amends under
division 9.3.1.
parliamentary body means—
(a) a parliament or legislature of any country; or
(b) a house of a parliament or legislature of any country; or
(c) a committee of a parliament or legislature of any country;
or
(d) a committee of a house or houses of a parliament or legislature of any
country.
publisher, for division 9.3.1 (Offers to make
amends)—see section 124.
substantially true means true in substance or not materially
different from the truth.
this jurisdiction means the Territory.
117 Ch 9 binds Crown
Note The Legislation Act, s 121 deals with the binding effect of
Acts.
Part 9.2 General
principles
Division 9.2.1 Defamation and the general
law
118 Tort of defamation
(1) This chapter relates to the tort of defamation at general
law.
(2) This chapter does not affect the operation of the general law in
relation to the tort of defamation except to the extent that this Act provides
otherwise (whether expressly or by necessary implication).
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the general law as it is from time to
time applies for the purposes of this Act as if this chapter as in force
immediately before the commencement of this section had never been
enacted.
119 Distinction between slander and libel
abolished
(1) The distinction at general law between slander and libel remains
abolished.
(2) Accordingly, the publication of defamatory matter of any kind is
actionable without proof of special damage.
Division 9.2.2 Causes of action for
defamation
120 Single cause of action for multiple defamatory
imputations in same matter
A person has a single cause of action for defamation in relation to the
publication of defamatory matter about the person even if more than 1 defamatory
imputation about the person is carried by the matter.
121 Certain corporations do not have cause of action
for defamation
(1) A corporation has no cause of action for defamation in relation to the
publication of defamatory matter about the corporation unless it was an excluded
corporation at the time of the publication.
(2) A corporation is an excluded corporation
if—
(a) the objects for which it is formed do not include obtaining financial
gain for its members or corporators; or
(b) it employs fewer than 10 persons and is not related to another
corporation;
and the corporation is not a public body.
(3) In counting employees for the purposes of subsection (2) (b),
part-time employees are to be taken into account as an appropriate fraction of a
full-time equivalent.
(4) In determining whether a corporation is related to another corporation
for the purposes of subsection (2) (b) the Corporations Act, section 50 applies
as if references to bodies corporate in that section were references to
corporations within the meaning of this section.
(5) Subsection (1) does not affect any cause of action for defamation that
an individual associated with a corporation has in relation to the publication
of defamatory matter about the individual even if the publication of the same
matter also defames the corporation.
(6) In this section:
corporation includes any body corporate or corporation
constituted by or under a law of any country (including by exercise of a
prerogative right), whether or not a public body.
public body means a local government body or other
governmental or public authority constituted by or under a law of any
country.
122 No cause of action for defamation of, or against,
deceased persons
A person (including a personal representative of a deceased person) cannot
assert, continue or enforce a cause of action for defamation in relation
to—
(a) the publication of defamatory matter about a deceased person (whether
published before or after his or her death); or
(b) the publication of defamatory matter by a person who has died since
publishing the matter.
Division 9.2.3 Choice of
law
123 Choice of law for defamation
proceedings
(1) If a matter is published wholly within a particular Australian
jurisdictional area, the substantive law that is applicable in that area must be
applied in this jurisdiction to determine any cause of action for defamation
based on the publication.
(2) If there is a multiple publication of matter in more than 1 Australian
jurisdictional area, the substantive law applicable in the Australian
jurisdictional area with which the harm occasioned by the publication as a whole
has its closest connection must be applied in this jurisdiction to determine
each cause of action for defamation based on the publication.
(3) In determining the Australian jurisdictional area with which the harm
occasioned by a publication of matter has its closest connection, a court may
take into account—
(a) the place at the time of publication where the plaintiff was
ordinarily resident or, in the case of a corporation that may assert a cause of
action for defamation, the place where the corporation had its principal place
of business at that time; and
(b) the extent of publication in each relevant Australian jurisdictional
area; and
(c) the extent of harm sustained by the plaintiff in each relevant
Australian jurisdictional area; and
(d) any other matter that the court considers relevant.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the substantive law
applicable in an Australian jurisdictional area does not include any law
prescribing rules for choice of law that differ from the rules prescribed by
this section.
(5) In this section:
Australian jurisdictional area means—
(a) the geographical area of Australia that lies within the territorial
limits of a particular State (including its coastal waters), but not including
any territory, place or other area referred to in paragraph (b); or
(b) any territory, place or other geographical area of Australia over
which the Commonwealth has legislative competence but over which no State or
Territory has legislative competence.
Note State includes the Northern Territory (see Legislation
Act, dict, pt 1).
geographical area of Australia includes—
(a) the territorial sea of Australia; and
(b) the external territories.
multiple publication means publication by a particular person
of the same, or substantially the same, matter in substantially the same form to
2 or more persons.
Part 9.3 Resolution of civil disputes
without litigation
Division 9.3.1 Offers to make
amends
124 Application of div 9.3.1
(1) This division applies if a person (the publisher)
publishes matter (the matter in question) that is, or may be,
defamatory of another person (the aggrieved person).
(2) The provisions of this division may be used instead of the provisions
of any rules of court or any other law in relation to payment into court or
offers of compromise.
(3) Nothing in this division prevents a publisher or aggrieved person from
making or accepting a settlement offer in relation to the publication of the
matter in question otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this
division.
125 Publisher may make offer to make
amends
(1) The publisher may make an offer to make amends to the aggrieved
person.
(2) The offer may be—
(a) in relation to the matter in question generally; or
(b) limited to any particular defamatory imputations that the publisher
accepts that the matter in question carries or may carry.
(3) If 2 or more persons published the matter in question, an offer to
make amends by 1 or more of them does not affect the liability of the other or
others.
(4) An offer to make amends is taken to have been made without prejudice,
unless the offer provides otherwise.
126 When offer to make amends may be
made
(1) An offer to make amends cannot be made if—
(a) 28 days have elapsed since the publisher was given a concerns notice
by the aggrieved person; or
(b) a defence has been served in an action brought by the aggrieved person
against the publisher in relation to the matter in question.
(2) A notice is a concerns notice for the purposes of this
section if the notice—
(a) is in writing; and
(b) informs the publisher of the defamatory imputations that the aggrieved
person considers are or may be carried about the aggrieved person by the matter
in question (the imputations of concern).
(3) If an aggrieved person gives the publisher a concerns notice, but
fails to particularise the imputations of concern adequately, the publisher may
give the aggrieved person a written notice (a further particulars
notice) requesting the aggrieved person to provide reasonable further
particulars about the imputations of concern as specified in the further
particulars notice.
Note For how documents may be served, see the Legislation Act,
pt 19.5.
(4) An aggrieved person to whom a further particulars notice is given must
provide the reasonable further particulars specified in the notice within 14
days (or any further period agreed by the publisher and aggrieved person) after
being given the notice.
(5) An aggrieved person who fails to provide the reasonable further
particulars specified in a further particulars notice within the applicable
period is taken not to have given the publisher a concerns notice for the
purposes of this section.
127 Content of offer to make
amends
(1) An offer to make amends—
(a) must be in writing; and
(b) must be readily identifiable as an offer to make amends under this
division; and
(c) if the offer is limited to any particular defamatory
imputations—must state that the offer is so limited and particularise the
imputations to which the offer is limited; and
(d) must include an offer to publish, or join in publishing, a reasonable
correction of the matter in question or, if the offer is limited to any
particular defamatory imputations, the imputations to which the offer is
limited; and
(e) if material containing the matter has been given to someone else by
the publisher or with the publisher’s knowledge—must include an
offer to take, or join in taking, reasonable steps to tell the other person that
the matter is or may be defamatory of the aggrieved person; and
(f) must include an offer to pay the expenses reasonably incurred by the
aggrieved person before the offer was made and the expenses reasonably incurred
by the aggrieved person in considering the offer; and
(g) may include any other kind of offer, or particulars of any other
action taken by the publisher, to redress the harm sustained by the aggrieved
person because of the matter in question, including (but not limited
to)—
(i) an offer to publish, or join in publishing, an apology in relation to
the matter in question or, if the offer is limited to any particular defamatory
imputations, the imputations to which the offer is limited; or
(ii) an offer to pay compensation for any economic or non-economic loss of
the aggrieved person; or
(iii) the particulars of any correction or apology made, or action taken,
before the date of the offer.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1) (g) (ii), an offer to pay compensation
may comprise or include any 1 or more of the following:
(a) an offer to pay a stated amount;
(b) an offer to pay an amount to be agreed between the publisher and the
aggrieved person;
(c) an offer to pay an amount determined by an arbitrator appointed, or
agreed on, by the publisher and the aggrieved person;
(d) an offer to pay an amount determined by a court.
(3) If an offer to make amends is accepted, a court may, on the
application of the aggrieved person or publisher, determine—
(a) if the offer provides for a court to determine the amount of
compensation payable under the offer—the amount of compensation to be paid
under the offer; and
(b) any other question that arises about what must be done to carry out
the terms of the offer.
(4) The powers conferred on a court by subsection (3) are
exercisable—
(a) if the aggrieved person has brought proceedings against the publisher
in any court for defamation in relation to the matter in question—by that
court in those proceedings; and
(b) except as provided in paragraph (a)—by the Supreme
Court.
128 Withdrawal of offer to make
amends
(1) An offer to make amends may be withdrawn before it is accepted by
notice in writing given to the aggrieved person.
(2) A publisher who has withdrawn an offer to make amends may make a
renewed offer.
(3) A renewed offer may (but need not) be in the same terms as the
withdrawn offer.
(4) A renewed offer is to be treated as a new offer (including for the
purposes of section 126).
(5) However, the time limit specified in section 126 for the making of
offers to make amends does not prevent the making of a renewed offer that is not
in the same terms as the withdrawn offer if—
(a) the renewed offer represents a genuine attempt by the publisher to
address matters of concern raised by the aggrieved person about the withdrawn
offer; and
(b) the renewed offer is made within 14 days after the withdrawal of the
withdrawn offer or any other period agreed by the publisher and the aggrieved
person.
129 Effect of acceptance of offer to make
amends
(1) If the publisher carries out the terms of an offer to make amends
(including payment of any compensation under the offer) that is accepted, the
aggrieved person cannot assert, continue or enforce an action for defamation
against the publisher in relation to the matter in question even if the offer
was limited to any particular defamatory imputations.
(2) A court may (but need not)—
(a) order the publisher to pay the aggrieved person the expenses
reasonably incurred by the aggrieved person as a result of accepting the offer;
and
(b) order any costs incurred by the aggrieved person that form part of
those expenses to be assessed on an indemnity basis.
(3) The powers conferred on a court by subsection (2) are
exercisable—
(a) if the aggrieved person has brought proceedings against the publisher
in any court for defamation in relation to the matter in question—by that
court in those proceedings, and
(b) except as provided in paragraph (a)—by the Supreme
Court.
130 Effect of failure to accept reasonable offer to
make amends
(1) If an offer to make amends is made in relation to the matter in
question but is not accepted, it is a defence to an action for defamation
against the publisher in relation to the matter if—
(a) the publisher made the offer as soon as practicable after becoming
aware that the matter is or may be defamatory; and
(b) at any time before the trial the publisher was ready and willing, on
acceptance of the offer by the aggrieved person, to carry out the terms of the
offer; and
(c) in all the circumstances the offer was reasonable.
(2) In determining whether an offer to make amends is reasonable, a
court—
(a) must have regard to any correction or apology published before any
trial arising out of the matter in question, including the extent to which the
correction or apology is brought to the attention of the audience of the matter
in question taking into account—
(i) the prominence given to the correction or apology as published in
comparison to the prominence given to the matter in question as published;
and
(ii) the period that elapses between publication of the matter in question
and publication of the correction or apology; and
(b) may have regard to—
(i) whether the aggrieved person refused to accept an offer that was
limited to any particular defamatory imputations because the aggrieved person
did not agree with the publisher about the imputations that the matter in
question carried; and
(ii) any other matter that the court considers relevant.
131 Inadmissibility of evidence of certain statements
and admissions
(1) Evidence of any statement or admission made in connection with the
making or acceptance of an offer to make amends is not admissible as evidence in
any legal proceedings (whether criminal or civil).
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the admission of evidence in any legal
proceedings in order to determine—
(a) any issue arising under, or relating to the application of, a
provision of this division; or
(b) costs in defamation proceedings.
Division
9.3.2 Apologies
132 Effect of apology on liability for
defamation
(1) An apology made by or on behalf of a person in connection with any
defamatory matter alleged to have been published by the person—
(a) does not constitute an express or implied admission of fault or
liability by the person in connection with that matter; and
(b) is not relevant to the determination of fault or liability in
connection with that matter.
(2) Evidence of an apology made by or on behalf of a person in connection
with any defamatory matter alleged to have been published by the person is not
admissible in any civil proceedings as evidence of the fault or liability of the
person in connection with that matter.
(3) Nothing in this section limits the operation of section 139G (State of
mind of defendant generally not relevant to awarding damages).
Part 9.4 Litigation of civil
disputes
Division 9.4.1 General
133 Leave required for further proceedings in
relation to publication of same defamatory matter
If a person has brought defamation proceedings for damages (whether in this
jurisdiction or elsewhere) against any person in relation to the publication of
any matter, the person cannot bring further defamation proceedings for damages
against the same defendant in relation to the same or any other publication of
the same or like matter, except with the leave of the court in which the further
proceedings are to be brought.
Division 9.4.2 Defences
134 Scope of defences under general law and other law
not limited
(1) A defence under this division is additional to any other defence or
exclusion of liability available to the defendant apart from this Act (including
under the general law) and does not of itself vitiate, limit or abrogate any
other defence or exclusion of liability.
(2) If a defence under this division to the publication of defamatory
matter may be defeated by proof that the publication was actuated by malice, the
general law applies in defamation proceedings in which the defence is raised to
determine whether a particular publication of matter was actuated by
malice.
135 Defence of justification
It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the defendant
proves that the defamatory imputations carried by the matter of which the
plaintiff complains are substantially true.
136 Defence of contextual truth
It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the defendant
proves that—
(a) the matter carried, in addition to the defamatory imputations of which
the plaintiff complains, 1 or more other imputations (contextual
imputations) that are substantially true; and
(b) the defamatory imputations do not further harm the reputation of the
plaintiff because of the substantial truth of the contextual
imputations.
137 Defence of absolute
privilege
(1) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that it was published on an occasion of absolute
privilege.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), matter is published on an occasion of
absolute privilege if—
(a) the matter is published in the course of the proceedings of a
parliamentary body, including (but not limited to)—
(i) the publication of a document by order, or under the authority, of the
body; and
(ii) the publication of the debates and proceedings of the body by or
under the authority of the body or any law; and
(iii) the publication of matter while giving evidence before the body;
and
(iv) the publication of matter while presenting or submitting a document
to the body; or
(b) the matter is published in the course of the proceedings of an
Australian court or Australian tribunal, including (but not limited
to)—
(i) the publication of matter in any document filed or lodged with, or
otherwise submitted to, the court or tribunal (including any originating
process); and
(ii) the publication of matter while giving evidence before the court or
tribunal; and
(iii) the publication of matter in any judgment, order or other
determination of the court or tribunal; or
(c) the matter is published on an occasion that, if published in another
Australian jurisdiction, would be an occasion of absolute privilege in that
jurisdiction under a provision of a law of the jurisdiction corresponding to
this section.
138 Defence for publication of public
documents
(1) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that the matter was contained in—
(a) a public document or a fair copy of a public document; or
(b) a fair summary of, or a fair extract from, a public
document.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), if a report or other document
under the law of a country would be a public document except for noncompliance
with a provision of that law about—
(a) the formal requirements for the content or layout of the report or
document; or
(b) the time within which the report or document is prepared, or
presented, submitted, tabled or laid to or before a person or body;
the report or document is a public document despite that
noncompliance.
(3) A defence established under subsection (1) is defeated if, and only
if, the plaintiff proves that the defamatory matter was not published honestly
for the information of the public or the advancement of education.
(4) In this section:
public document means—
(a) any report or paper published by a parliamentary body, or a record of
votes, debates or other proceedings relating to a parliamentary body published
by or under the authority of the body or any law; or
(b) any judgment, order or other determination of a court or arbitral
tribunal of any country in civil proceedings and including—
(i) any record of the court or tribunal relating to the judgment, order or
determination or to its enforcement or satisfaction; and
(ii) any report of the court or tribunal about its judgment, order or
determination and the reasons for its judgment, order or determination;
or
(c) any report or other document that under the law of any
country—
(i) is authorised to be published; or
(ii) is required to be presented or submitted to, tabled in, or laid
before, a parliamentary body; or
(d) any document issued by the government (including a local government)
of a country, or by an officer, employee or agency of the government, for the
information of the public; or
(e) any record or other document open to inspection by the public that is
kept—
(i) by an Australian jurisdiction; or
(ii) by a statutory authority of an Australian jurisdiction; or
(iii) by an Australian court; or
(iv) under legislation of an Australian jurisdiction; or
(f) any other document issued, kept or published by a person, body or
organisation of another Australian jurisdiction that is treated in that
jurisdiction as a public document under a provision of a law of the jurisdiction
corresponding to this section.
139 Defences of fair report of proceedings of public
concern
(1) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that the matter was, or was contained in, a fair report of any
proceedings of public concern.
(2) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that—
(a) the matter was, or was contained in, an earlier published report of
proceedings of public concern; and
(b) the matter was, or was contained in, a fair copy of, a fair summary
of, or a fair extract from, the earlier published report; and
(c) the defendant had no knowledge that would reasonably make the
defendant aware that the earlier published report was not fair.
(3) A defence established under subsection (1) or (2) is defeated if, and
only if, the plaintiff proves that the defamatory matter was not published
honestly for the information of the public or the advancement of
education.
(4) In this section:
proceedings of public concern means—
(a) any proceedings in public of a parliamentary body; or
(b) any proceedings in public of an international organisation of any
countries or of the governments of any countries; or
(c) any proceedings in public of an international conference at which the
governments of any countries are represented; or
(d) any proceedings in public of—
(i) the International Court of Justice, or any other judicial or arbitral
tribunal, for the decision of any matter in dispute between nations;
or
(ii) any other international judicial or arbitral tribunal; or
(e) any proceedings in public of a court or arbitral tribunal of any
country; or
(f) any proceedings in public of an inquiry held under the law of any
country or under the authority of the government of any country; or
(g) any proceedings in public of a local government body of any Australian
jurisdiction; or
(h) proceedings of a learned society, or of a committee or governing body
of the society, under its relevant objects, but only to the extent that the
proceedings relate to a decision or adjudication made in Australia
about—
(i) a member or members of the society; or
(ii) a person subject by contract or otherwise by law to control by the
society; or
(i) proceedings of a sport or recreation association, or of a committee or
governing body of the association, under its relevant objects, but only to the
extent that the proceedings relate to a decision or adjudication made in
Australia about—
(i) a member or members of the association; or
(ii) a person subject by contract or otherwise by law to control by the
association; or
(j) proceedings of a trade association, or of a committee or governing
body of the association, under its relevant objects, but only to the extent that
the proceedings relate to a decision or adjudication made in Australia
about—
(i) a member or members of the association; or
(ii) a person subject by contract or otherwise by law to control by the
association; or
(k) any proceedings of a public meeting (with or without restriction on
the people attending) of shareholders of a public company under the Corporations
Act held anywhere in Australia; or
Note Corporations Act is defined
in the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1.
(l) any proceedings of a public meeting (with or without restriction on
the people attending) held anywhere in Australia if the proceedings relate to a
matter of public interest, including the advocacy or candidature of a person for
public office; or
(m) any proceedings of an ombudsman of any country if the proceedings
relate to a report of the ombudsman; or
(n) any proceedings in public of a law reform body of any country;
or
(o) any other proceedings conducted by, or proceedings of, a person, body
or organisation of another Australian jurisdiction that are treated in that
jurisdiction as proceedings of public concern under a provision of a law of the
jurisdiction corresponding to this section.
(5) In this section:
law reform body, of a country, means a body (however
described and whether or not permanent or full-time) established by law to
conduct inquiries into, and to make recommendations on, reforming the laws of
that country.
learned society means a body, wherever
formed—
(a) the objects of which include the advancement of any art, science or
religion or the advancement of learning in any field; and
(b) authorised by its constitution—
(i) to exercise control over, or adjudicate on, matters connected with
those objects; and
(ii) to make findings or decisions having effect, by law or custom, in any
part of Australia.
ombudsman, of a country, means a person (however described
and whether or not permanent or full-time) authorised by law to investigate
complaints about the actions or other conduct of any public officials or public
bodies of that country.
relevant objects, of a learned society, sport or recreation
association or trade association, means—
(a) in relation to a learned society—objects of the kind referred to
in this subsection, definition of learned society, paragraph (a);
or
(b) in relation to a sport or recreation association—objects of the
kind referred to in this subsection, definition of sport or recreation
association, paragraph (a); or
(c) in relation to a trade association—objects of the kind referred
to in this subsection, definition of trade association,
paragraph (a).
sport or recreation association means a body, wherever
formed—
(a) the objects of which include the promotion of any game, sport, or
pastime to the playing of which or exercise of which the public is admitted as
spectators or otherwise and the promotion or protection of the interests of
people connected with the game, sport, or pastime; and
(b) authorised by its constitution—
(i) to exercise control over, or adjudicate on, matters connected with the
game, sport, or pastime; and
(ii) to make findings or decisions having effect, by law or custom, in any
part of Australia.
trade association means a body, wherever
formed—
(a) the objects of which include the promotion of any calling, that is to
say, a trade, business, industry or profession and the promotion or protection
of the interests of people engaged in any calling; and
(b) authorised by its constitution—
(i) to exercise control over, or adjudicate on, matters connected with a
calling or the conduct of people engaged in the calling; and
(ii) to make findings or decisions having effect, by law or custom, in any
part of Australia.
139A Defence of qualified privilege for provision of
certain information
(1) There is a defence of qualified privilege for the publication of
defamatory matter to a person (the recipient) if the defendant
proves that—
(a) the recipient has an interest or apparent interest in having
information on some subject; and
(b) the matter is published to the recipient in the course of giving to
the recipient information on that subject; and
(c) the conduct of the defendant in publishing that matter is reasonable
in the circumstances.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a recipient has an apparent
interest in having information on some subject if, and only if, at the time of
the publication in question, the defendant believes, on reasonable grounds, that
the recipient has that interest.
(3) In determining for the purposes of subsection (1) whether the conduct
of the defendant in publishing matter about a person is reasonable in the
circumstances, a court may take into account—
(a) the extent to which the matter published is of public interest;
and
(b) the extent to which the matter published relates to the performance of
the public functions or activities of the person; and
(c) the seriousness of any defamatory imputation carried by the matter
published; and
(d) the extent to which the matter published distinguishes between
suspicions, allegations and proven facts; and
(e) whether it was in the public interest in the circumstances for the
matter published to be published expeditiously; and
(f) the nature of the business environment in which the defendant
operates; and
(g) the sources of the information in the matter published and the
integrity of those sources; and
(h) whether the matter published contained the substance of the
person’s side of the story and, if not, whether a reasonable attempt was
made by the defendant to obtain and publish a response from the person;
and
(i) any other steps taken to verify the information in the matter
published; and
(j) any other circumstances that the court considers relevant.
(4) For the avoidance of doubt, a defence of qualified privilege under
subsection (1) is defeated if the plaintiff proves that the publication of the
defamatory matter was actuated by malice.
(5) However, a defence of qualified privilege under subsection (1) is not
defeated merely because the defamatory matter was published for
reward.
139B Defences of honest opinion
(1) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that—
(a) the matter was an expression of opinion of the defendant rather than a
statement of fact; and
(b) the opinion related to a matter of public interest; and
(c) the opinion is based on proper material.
(2) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that—
(a) the matter was an expression of opinion of an employee or agent of the
defendant rather than a statement of fact; and
(b) the opinion related to a matter of public interest; and
(c) the opinion is based on proper material.
(3) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that—
(a) the matter was an expression of opinion of a person (the
commentator), other than the defendant or an employee or agent of
the defendant, rather than a statement of fact; and
(b) the opinion related to a matter of public interest; and
(c) the opinion is based on proper material.
(4) A defence established under this section is defeated if, and only if,
the plaintiff proves that—
(a) in the case of a defence under subsection (1)—the opinion was
not honestly held by the defendant at the time the defamatory matter was
published; or
(b) in the case of a defence under subsection (2)—the defendant did
not believe that the opinion was honestly held by the employee or agent at the
time the defamatory matter was published; or
(c) in the case of a defence under subsection (3)—the defendant had
reasonable grounds to believe that the opinion was not honestly held by the
commentator at the time the defamatory matter was published.
(5) For the purposes of this section, an opinion is based on proper
material if it is based on material that—
(a) is substantially true; or
(b) was published on an occasion of absolute or qualified privilege
(whether under this Act or at general law); or
(c) was published on an occasion that attracted the protection
of—
(i) a defence under this section, section 138 (Defence for publication of
public documents) or section 139 (Defences of fair report of proceedings of
public concern); or
(ii) the defence of fair comment at general law.
(6) An opinion does not cease to be based on proper material only because
some of the material on which it is based is not proper matter if the opinion
might reasonably be based on such of the material as is proper
material.
139C Defence of innocent
dissemination
(1) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the
defendant proves that—
(a) the defendant published the matter merely in the capacity, or as an
employee or agent, of a subordinate distributor; and
(b) the defendant neither knew, nor ought reasonably to have known, that
the matter was defamatory; and
(c) the defendant’s lack of knowledge was not due to any negligence
on the part of the defendant.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a person is a subordinate
distributor of defamatory matter if the person—
(a) was not the first or primary distributor of the matter; and
(b) was not the author or originator of the matter; and
(c) did not have any capacity to exercise editorial control over the
content of the matter (or over the publication of the matter) before it was
first published.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2) (a), a person is not the first or
primary distributor of matter merely because the person was involved in the
publication of the matter in the capacity of—
(a) a bookseller, newsagent or newsvendor; or
(b) a librarian; or
(c) a wholesaler or retailer of the matter; or
(d) a provider of postal or similar services by means of which the matter
is published; or
(e) a broadcaster of a live program (whether on television, radio or
otherwise) containing the matter in circumstances in which the broadcaster has
no effective control over the person who makes the statements that comprise the
matter; or
(f) a provider of services consisting of—
(i) the processing, copying, distributing or selling of any electronic
medium in or on which the matter is recorded; or
(ii) the operation of, or the provision of any equipment, system or
service, by means of which the matter is retrieved, copied, distributed or made
available in electronic form; or
(g) an operator of, or a provider of access to, a communications system by
means of which the matter is transmitted, or made available, by another person
over whom the operator or provider has no effective control; or
(h) a person who, on the instructions or at the direction of another
person, prints or produces, reprints or reproduces or distributes the matter for
or on behalf of that other person.
139D Defence of triviality
It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the defendant
proves that the circumstances of publication were such that the plaintiff was
unlikely to sustain any harm.
Division 9.4.3 Remedies
139E Damages to bear rational relationship to
harm
In determining the amount of damages to be awarded in any defamation
proceedings, the court is to ensure that there is an appropriate and rational
relationship between the harm sustained by the plaintiff and the amount of
damages awarded.
139F Damages for non-economic loss
limited
(1) Unless the court orders otherwise under subsection (2), the maximum
amount of damages for non-economic loss that may be awarded in defamation
proceedings is $250 000 or any other amount adjusted in accordance with
this section from time to time (the maximum damages amount) that
is applicable at the time damages are awarded.
(2) A court may order a defendant in defamation proceedings to pay damages
for non-economic loss that exceed the maximum damages amount applicable at the
time the order is made if, and only if, the court is satisfied that the
circumstances of the publication of the defamatory matter to which the
proceedings relate are such as to warrant an award of aggravated
damages.
(3) The Minister is, on or before 1 July 2006 and on or before 1 July in
each succeeding year, to declare, in writing, the amount that is to apply, as
from the date specified in the order, for the purposes of subsection
(1).
(4) The amount declared is to be the amount applicable under subsection
(1) (or that amount as last adjusted under this section) adjusted by the
percentage change in the amount estimated by the Australian statistician of the
average weekly total earnings of full-time adults in Australia over the 4
quarters preceding the date of the declaration for which those estimates are, at
that date, available.
(5) A declaration under subsection (3) is a notifiable
instrument.
Note A notifiable instrument must be notified under the Legislation
Act.
(6) An amount declared for the time being under this section applies to
the exclusion of the amount of $250 000 or an amount previously adjusted
under this section.
(7) If the Australian statistician fails or ceases to estimate the amount
referred to in subsection (4), the amount declared is to be determined in
accordance with the regulations.
(8) In adjusting an amount to be declared for the purposes of
subsection (1), the amount determined in accordance with subsection (4) is
to be rounded to the nearest $500.
(9) A declaration may provide that it commences retrospectively.
139G State of mind of defendant generally not
relevant to awarding damages
In awarding damages for defamation, the court is to disregard the malice or
other state of mind of the defendant at the time of the publication of the
defamatory matter to which the proceedings relate or at any other time except to
the extent that the malice or other state of mind affects the harm sustained by
the plaintiff.
139H Exemplary or punitive damages cannot be
awarded
A plaintiff cannot be awarded exemplary or punitive damages for
defamation.
139I Factors in mitigation of
damages
(1) Evidence is admissible on behalf of the defendant, in mitigation of
damages for the publication of defamatory matter, that—
(a) the defendant has made an apology to the plaintiff about the
publication of the defamatory matter; or
(b) the defendant has published a correction of the defamatory matter;
or
(c) the plaintiff has already recovered damages for defamation in relation
to any other publication of matter having the same meaning or effect as the
defamatory matter; or
(d) the plaintiff has brought proceedings for damages for defamation in
relation to any other publication of matter having the same meaning or effect as
the defamatory matter; or
(e) the plaintiff has received or agreed to receive compensation for
defamation in relation to any other publication of matter having the same
meaning or effect as the defamatory matter.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) operates to limit the matters that can be
taken into account by a court in mitigation of damages.
139J Damages for multiple causes of action may be
assessed as single sum
If the court in defamation proceedings finds for the plaintiff as to more
than 1 cause of action, the judicial officer may assess damages in a single
sum.
Division 9.4.4 Costs
139K Costs in defamation
proceedings
(1) In awarding costs in defamation proceedings, the court may have regard
to—
(a) the way in which the parties to the proceedings conducted their cases
(including any misuse of a party’s superior financial position to hinder
the early resolution of the proceedings); and
(b) any other matters that the court considers relevant.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a court must (unless the interests of
justice require otherwise)—
(a) if defamation proceedings are successfully brought by a plaintiff and
costs in the proceedings are to be awarded to the plaintiff—order costs of
and incidental to the proceedings to be assessed on an indemnity basis if the
court is satisfied that the defendant unreasonably failed to make a settlement
offer or agree to a settlement offer proposed by the plaintiff; or
(b) if defamation proceedings are unsuccessfully brought by a plaintiff
and costs in the proceedings are to be awarded to the defendant—order
costs of and incidental to the proceedings to be assessed on an indemnity basis
if the court is satisfied that the plaintiff unreasonably failed to accept a
settlement offer made by the defendant.
(3) In this section:
settlement offer means any offer to settle the proceedings
made before the proceedings are determined, and includes an offer to make amends
(whether made before or after the proceedings are commenced), that was a
reasonable offer at the time it was made.
Part 9.5 Miscellaneous
139L Proof of publication
(1) If a document appears to be printed or otherwise produced by means
adapted for the production of numerous copies and there is in the document a
statement to the effect that the document is printed, produced, published or
distributed by or for a particular person, the statement is evidence in
defamation proceedings that the document was so printed, produced, published or
distributed.
(2) Evidence that a number or part of a document appearing to be a
periodical is printed, produced, published or distributed by or for a particular
person is evidence in defamation proceedings that a document appearing to be
another number or part of the periodical was so printed, produced, published or
distributed.
(3) In this section:
periodical includes any newspaper, review, magazine or other
printed document of which numbers or parts are published periodically.
139M Proof of convictions for
offences
(1) If the question whether or not a person committed an offence is in
question in defamation proceedings—
(a) proof that the person was convicted of the offence by an Australian
court is conclusive evidence that the person committed the offence;
and
(b) proof that the person was convicted of the offence by a court of any
country (other than an Australian court) or a court martial of any country is
evidence that the person committed the offence.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the contents of a document that is
evidence of conviction of an offence, and the contents of an information,
complaint, indictment, charge sheet or similar document on which a person is
convicted of an offence, are admissible in evidence to identify the facts on
which the conviction is based.
(3) Subsection (2) does not affect the admissibility of other evidence to
identify the facts on which the conviction is based.
(4) In this section:
conviction, for an offence, includes a finding of guilt, but
does not include—
(a) a conviction that has been set aside or quashed; or
(b) a conviction for an offence for which a person has received a
pardon.
139N Incriminating answers, documents or
things
(1) A person who is required to answer a question, or to discover or
produce a document or thing, in defamation proceedings is not excused from
answering the question or discovering or producing the document or thing on the
ground that the answer to the question or the discovery or production of the
document or thing might tend to incriminate the person of an offence of criminal
defamation.
(2) However, any answer given to a question, or document or thing
discovered or produced, by a natural person in compliance with the requirement
is not admissible in evidence against the person in proceedings for criminal
defamation.
insert
230 Application of Civil Law (Wrongs) Amendment Act
2005
(1) Chapter 9 as in force after the commencement of this section
(replacement chapter 9) applies to the publication of defamatory
matter after that commencement, unless subsection (2) provides
otherwise.
(2) Replacement chapter 9 does not apply to a cause of action for the
publication of defamatory matter that accrues after the commencement of this
section (the post-commencement action) if—
(a) the post-commencement action is 1 of 2 or more causes of action in
proceedings commenced by a plaintiff; and
(b) each cause of action in the proceedings accrues because of the
publication of the same, or substantially the same, matter on separate occasions
(whether by the same defendant or another defendant); and
(c) 1 or more of the other causes of action in the proceedings accrued
before the commencement of this section (a pre-commencement
action); and
(d) the post-commencement action accrued no later than 12 months
after the date on which the earliest pre-commencement action in the proceedings
accrued.
(3) The existing law of defamation continues to apply to the following
causes of action in the same way as it would have applied to those causes of
action had the Civil Law (Wrongs) Amendment Act 2005 not been
enacted:
(a) any cause of action that accrued before the commencement of this
section;
(b) any post-commencement action to which replacement chapter 9 does
not apply because of subsection (2).
(4) In this section:
existing law of defamation means the law (including all
relevant statutory provisions and principles and rules of the general law) that
applied in this jurisdiction to the determination of civil liability for the
publication of defamatory matter immediately before the commencement of this
section.
(5) This section is a law to which the Legislation Act, section 88 (Repeal
does not end effect of transitional laws etc) applies.
(6) This section expires 3 years after the day it commences.
6 Dictionary,
definition of action
omit
7 Dictionary,
definition of aggrieved person
substitute
aggrieved person, for division 9.3.1 (Offers to make
amends)—see section 124.
8 Dictionary,
definition of amends agreement
omit
9 Dictionary,
new definitions
insert
Australian court, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see
section 116.
Australian jurisdiction, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see
section 116.
Australian tribunal, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see
section 116.
10 Dictionary,
definition of country
substitute
country, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see section
116.
11 Dictionary,
definition of court, paragraph (e)
omit
12 Dictionary,
definition of court, paragraphs (f) to (i)
renumber as paragraphs (e) to (h)
13 Dictionary,
definition of defamation
omit
14 Dictionary,
new definitions
insert
document, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see section
116.
electronic communication, for chapter 9
(Defamation)—see section 116.
general law, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see section
116.
matter, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see section
116.
15 Dictionary,
definition of matter in question
substitute
matter in question, for division 9.3.1 (Offers to make
amends)—see section 124.
16 Dictionary,
definition of offer to make amends
substitute
offer to make amends, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see
section 116.
17 Dictionary,
definition of parliamentary body
substitute
parliamentary body, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see
section 116.
18 Dictionary,
definition of published matter
omit
19 Dictionary,
definition of publisher
substitute
publisher, for division 9.3.1 (Offers to make
amends)—see section 124.
20 Dictionary,
definition of qualified offer
omit
21 Dictionary,
new definitions
insert
substantially true, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see
section 116.
this jurisdiction, for chapter 9 (Defamation)—see
section 116.
22 Dictionary,
definition of tribunal
omit
23 Repeal
of Defamation (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2001
The Defamation (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2001 A2001-88 is
repealed.
Schedule
1 Consequential
amendments
(see s 3)
[1.1] Section
7A, note 1, new dot point
insert
• s 439 (Offence of criminal defamation)
insert
439 Offence of criminal
defamation
(1) A person must not publish matter defamatory of another living person
(the victim)—
(a) knowing the matter to be false; and
(b) with intent to cause serious harm to the victim or any other person or
being reckless as to whether such harm is caused.
Maximum penalty: 300 penalty units, imprisonment for 3 years or
both.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the publication of defamatory matter
about the victim if, and only if, the defendant would, having regard only to the
circumstances happening before or at the time of the publication, have had a
defence for the publication if the victim had brought civil proceedings for
defamation against the defendant.
Note Under the Criminal Code, s 58 (3) a defendant who wishes to
rely on this exception has an evidential burden in relation to the
matter.
(3) On a trial before a jury for an offence against this
section—
(a) the question of whether the matter complained of is capable of bearing
a defamatory meaning is a question for determination by the judicial officer
presiding; and
(b) the question of whether the matter complained of does bear a
defamatory meaning is a question for the jury; and
(c) the jury may give a general verdict of guilty or not guilty on the
issues as a whole.
(4) A proceeding for an offence against this section must not be begun
without the written consent of the director of public prosecutions.
(5) However, a person may be arrested for, charged with, or remanded in
custody or on bail in relation to, an offence against this section before the
consent has been given.
(6) In a proceeding for an offence against this section a consent
purporting to have been signed by the director of public prosecutions is,
without proof of the signature, evidence of that consent.
(7) The commencement of criminal proceedings for an offence against this
section does not prevent—
(a) the commencement of civil proceedings for defamation against the
defendant in the criminal proceedings; or
(b) the determination of the civil proceedings pending the determination
of the criminal proceedings.
(8) In this section, publish and defamatory
have the meanings that they have in the law of tort (as modified by the Civil
Law (Wrongs) Act 2002) relating to defamation.
(9) In this section:
harm—see the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002,
section 40.
Part
1.2 Limitation Act
1985
substitute
21B Defamation proceedings generally to be commenced
within 1 year
(1) An action on a cause of action for defamation is not maintainable if
brought after the end of a limitation period of 1 year running from the date of
the publication of the matter complained of.
(2) However, a court must, if satisfied that it was not reasonable in the
circumstances for the plaintiff to have commenced an action in relation to the
matter complained of within 1 year from the date of the publication, extend the
limitation period mentioned in subsection (1) to a period of up to 3 years
running from the date of the publication.
insert
Part 5 Transitional
60 Application of s 21B—Civil Law (Wrongs)
Amendment Act 2005
(1) Section 21B as in force after the commencement of this section
(replacement section 21B) applies to the publication of defamatory
matter after that commencement, unless subsection (2) provides
otherwise.
(2) Replacement section 21B does not apply to a cause of action for the
publication of defamatory matter that accrues after the commencement of this
section (the post-commencement action) if—
(a) the post-commencement action is 1 of 2 or more causes of action in
proceedings commenced by a plaintiff; and
(b) each cause of action in the proceedings accrues because of the
publication of the same, or substantially the same, matter on separate occasions
(whether by the same defendant or another defendant); and
(c) 1 or more of the other causes of action in the proceedings accrued
before the commencement of this section (a pre-commencement
action); and
(d) the post-commencement action accrued no later than 12 months
after the date on which the earliest pre-commencement action in the proceedings
accrued.
(3) The existing limitation law continues to apply to the following causes
of action in the same way as it would have applied to those causes of action had
the Civil Law (Wrongs) Amendment Act 2005 not been enacted:
(a) any cause of action that accrued before the commencement of this
section;
(b) any post-commencement action to which replacement section 21B
does not apply because of subsection (2).
(4) In this section:
existing limitation law means the provisions of this Act that
applied in relation to the limitation period for defamation actions immediately
before the commencement of this section.
(5) This section is a law to which the Legislation Act, section 88 (Repeal
does not end effect of transitional laws etc) applies.
(6) This section expires 3 years after the day it commences.
Endnotes
1 Presentation speech
Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 2005.
2 Notification
Notified under the Legislation Act on 2005.
3 Republications of amended laws
For the latest republication of amended laws, see
www.legislation.act.gov.au.
© Australian Capital Territory
2005
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