The ACT would not press ahead with a separate defamation reform Act despite the delay in the uniform Bill in the eastern states, the Attorney-General, Terry Connolly, said yesterday.
The reform plan was first put by the Queensland Attorney-General, Dean Wells, in June, 1990. He called for greater protection for publication of matter of public importance while safeguarding privacy.
Mr Connolly said he had not given up on uniform defamation laws.
“”There are enormous advantages in uniform laws for the ACT,” he said, “”The ACT is as island in NSW and nearly all publications and broadcasts in the ACT were also publications and broadcasts in NSW.
It was convenient to have one law.
“”However, if it does collapse, we will change the reference to our Community Law Reform Committee and we will seek the ideal law for the ACT.”
There were better ways to deal with defamation than awarding damages, he said. The present law and procedure meant that ordinary citizens had not redress because of high costs and delays.
The law-reform committee was looking at procedural defamation matters. Mr Connolly said procedural changes could be made separately from the substantive law, but it would not be advisable to muddy the waters now while the uniform Bill was still under consideration.
The uniform Bill was the best opportunity for decades and it should not be given up.