(1) An auditor of the holder of a licence has qualified privilege in respect of:

(a)

a statement that the auditor makes, orally or in writing, in the course of his or her duties as auditor; or

(b)

the lodging of a report, or the sending of a report to the holder, or to a securities exchange, under section 861.

(2) A person has qualified privilege:

(a)

in respect of the publishing of a document prepared by an auditor of the holder of a licence in the course of the auditor's duties or required by or under this Chapter to be lodged, whether or not the document has been lodged; or

(b)

in respect of the publishing of a statement made by such an auditor as mentioned in subsection (1).