New Queensland defamation laws aim to better protect people making complaints to police and those managing online platforms.
State Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said the amendments to the Defamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 modernised Queensland’s defamation laws and looked to strike a balance between protecting reputations and freedom of expression.
Attorney-General Frecklington said the changes would also ensure the State’s defamation laws were fit for purpose in the digital age, by addressing defamatory content posted online.
She said the Bill made it clearer who was responsible when defamatory material was published online and provided a potential defence for administrators of online forums and social media pages, such as media organisations or neighbourhood and parent groups, where defamatory comments were made on the site by a third party.
“The reforms will also ensure people who report to police, including for serious misconduct like sexual harassment or assault, are protected from defamation claims, removing a key barrier that victim survivors had to overcome when coming forward.”
Attorney-General Frecklington said other changes included:
- Making it easier for people to resolve defamation disputes by allowing offers to remove or block access to harmful content.
- Giving courts clearer guidance when deciding whether to order digital platforms to reveal the identity of anonymous posters.
- Allowing courts to order digital platforms, even if they’re not part of a defamation legal proceeding, to take down defamatory content.
- Extending legal protections to people who report to police.
“We have swiftly acted to introduce these reforms – as it’s been 20 years since the Defamation Act was introduced,” she said.
“It is vital that Queensland’s laws keep pace with the changing ways Australians communicate, particularly the evolving influence of digital and social media.”
Attorney-General Frecklington said bringing Queensland laws in line with other States and Territories was crucial to prevent forum shopping and provided certainty when publications were made across borders.
“No one should be afraid to speak up about abuse or misconduct because of the threat of defamation proceedings.
“These reforms also send a clear message that the law stands with victim survivors who act in good faith to report serious wrongdoing.”