- Crisafulli Government has passed new amendments to modernise Queensland's defamation laws after Labor's failure to act.
- Victim-survivors who report matters to police will no longer face the risk of defamation action.
- Administrators of online community forums and media organisations will be given new legal protections for comments posted by online trolls and third parties.
- Courts will have stronger powers to order removal of defamatory material, regardless of whether digital platforms are part of proceedings.
The Crisafulli Government has passed new laws in Parliament to modernise Queensland's defamation laws for the digital age.
The Defamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 delivers nationally consistent reforms that strike a better balance between protecting reputations and upholding freedom of expression, following a nationwide review of how defamation laws operate.
The amendments clarify responsibility for material published online and introduce a new defence for administrators of online forums and social media pages, including media organisations, community groups, and parent networks, where third party comments are posted.
This ensures that media organisations can get on with the job of reporting the news, without being burdened with the constant threat of defamation from comments posted by online trolls and third parties.
The Bill introduces critical protections for people who report matters to police, including serious misconduct such as sexual harassment and sexual assault, by shielding them from defamation liability and removing a significant barrier in coming forward.
Courts will now be required to consider privacy, safety, and other public interest factors when making preliminary disclosure orders in defamation proceedings, providing stronger protections for victims against misuse of court processes by domestic and family violence offenders.
The reforms also streamline dispute resolution by enabling faster removal of harmful content and clarifying court powers to address anonymous posters and enforce platform takedowns.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the passage of the legislation marked a major step in protecting Queenslanders, particularly victim-survivors.
"Queensland's defamation framework has now been updated after Labor failed to implement these critical changes to modernise the law, and achieve consistency with other states and territories," the Attorney-General said.
"To be clear, these changes are putting internet trolls on notice and will provide community organisations and the media with better protections and greater certainty about their legal responsibilities.
"Victim-survivors who bravely report abuse or wrongdoing to police should never face the threat of defamation, and the Crisafulli Government has strengthened the law to protect them."
The Crisafulli Government has acted quickly, with the Bill to commence seven days after receiving royal assent, following a decade of decline and inaction under the former Labor Government.
