Pressure mounts on Attorney-General to dump defamation plans

There’s mounting pressure on Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin to dump her government’s poisonous defamation laws.

Deputy Labor Leader Michelle O’Byrne said the Liberal Government has done nothing to allay fears regarding freedom of speech.

“The rest of Australia is shaking its head in dismay over what the Liberals have proposed,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“Newspapers here are rightly questioning the Liberal Government’s motives and judgement.

“At a time when the world is bravely standing up to protect the notion of free speech, this small minded government is doing the opposite.

“Vanessa Goodwin needs to abandon this dangerous legislation.

“The Liberals talked tough over forest protesters before the election but have failed to create sensible public policy.

“Existing laws protect individuals against defamation, there’s simply no reason to move away from the uniform laws.

“And Vanessa Goodwin is wrong if she claims this is simply a return to the past. These changes would leave Tasmania out on its own.

“Just like with the anti-protest legislation, these defamation changes have far reaching consequences.

“Journalists could be discouraged from the kind of investigative journalism that exposed James Hardie’s corporate cover-up of the dangers of asbestos while individuals could be sued simply for writing a letter to the editor.

“Labor will oppose the Liberal Government’s insidious attack on free speech.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP Deputy Labor Leader