Attorney-General Must Show Leadership On Defamation Reform

Media Statement - 14 July 2002

Attorney-General Daryl Williams must show some national leadership and help the States and Territories reach agreement on a nationally consistent package of defamation reforms.

Disappointingly, Mr Williams has always chosen to wash his hands of this issue.

Given the renewed interest in defamation reform, Mr Williams should now be prepared to facilitate discussion of the issue at the next meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General in late July.

It is not good enough for the Federal Attorney-General to keep saying he will do nothing until the States and Territories reach agreement.

Federal Labor recognises that the activities of the Australian media cut across state boundaries.When defamatory material is published simultaneously in a number of jurisdictions, it can lead to forum shopping and unnecessarily complex litigation.

At the 2001 election, Federal Labor promised to work with the States and Territories to secure support for national uniform defamation laws, and to take the lead by tabling Commonwealth defamation legislation relying on the full extent of the Commonwealth's powers in the Constitution.

Having recovered from the stress of a party room revolt over the International Criminal Court, it is time for the Attorney-General to play a constructive role in achieving nationally consistent defamation laws.