{"id":"BILL-QLD-3266","name":"Defamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"defamation-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446090,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-3266:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:13.790Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Defamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nDefamation and Other\nLegislation Amendment Bill\n2025\n\nQueensland\nDefamation and Other Legislation\nAmendment Bill 2025\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\n3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n4 Amendment of s 4 (Interpretation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n5 Insertion of new pt 2, div 2A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\nDivision 2A Exemptions from liability for digital intermediaries\n10C Exemption for digital intermediaries providing caching\nservices, conduit services or storage services . . . . . 5\n10D Exemption for search engine providers . . . . . . . . . . . 6\n10E Early determination of digital intermediary exemptions 8\n6 Amendment of s 15 (Content of offer to make amends) . . . . . . . 9\n7 Insertion of new s 23A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n23A Orders for preliminary discovery about posters of digital\nmatter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n8 Amendment of s 27 (Defence of absolute privilege) . . . . . . . . . . 11\n9 Insertion of new s 31A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n31A Defence for publications involving digital intermediaries 12\n10 Insertion of new s 39A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n39A Orders against non-party digital intermediaries concerning\ndefamatory digital matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n11 Amendment of s 44 (Giving of notices and other documents) . . 16\n12 Insertion of new pt 6 and div 1, hdgs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\n13 Amendment of s 49 (Savings, transitional and other provisions for Act\nNo. 55 of 2005) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\n14 Insertion of new pt 6, div 2, hdg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\n\nContents\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 2\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n15 Amendment of s 50 (Transitional provision for Defamation (Model\nProvisions) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021) . . . . . . 18\n16 Insertion of new pt 6, div 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\nDivision 3 Transitional provisions for Defamation and Other\nLegislation Amendment Act 2025\n51 Definitions for division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18\n52 Digital intermediary amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19\n53 Offer amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n54 Preliminary discovery or non-party digital intermediary order\namendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20\n55 Absolute privilege amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21\n56 Document giving or service amendments . . . . . . . . . 22\n17 Amendment of schedule, hdg (Schedule numbers 1–3 not used) 22\n18 Amendment of sch 5 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22\nPart 3 Amendment of Criminal Code\n19 Code amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24\n20 Amendment of s 365 (Criminal defamation) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24\n21 Insertion of new pt 9, ch 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25\nChapter 113 Transitional provision for Defamation and Other\nLegislation Amendment Act 2025\n768 Proceedings for criminal defamation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26\n\n2025\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Defamation Act 2005\nfor particular purposes\n\n[s 1]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 1 Preliminary\nPage 4\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Defamation and Other\nLegislation Amendment Act 2025.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act commences on the day that is 7 days after the date of\nassent.\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act\n2005\n3 Act amended\nThis part amends the Defamation Act 2005.\n4 Amendment of s 4 (Interpretation)\nSection 4(2)—\nomit.\n5 Insertion of new pt 2, div 2A\nPart 2—\ninsert—\nDivision 2A Exemptions from liability\nfor digital intermediaries\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\nClause 11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n\n[s 5]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 5\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n10C Exemption for digital intermediaries providing\ncaching services, conduit services or storage\nservices\n(1) A digital intermediary is not liable for defamation\nfor the publication of digital matter if the\nintermediary proves—\n(a) the matter was published using 1 or more of\nthe following services provided by the\nintermediary—\n(i) a caching service;\n(ii) a conduit service;\n(iii) a storage service; and\n(b) the intermediary’s role in the publication\nwas limited to providing 1 or more of the\nservices mentioned in paragraph (a); and\n(c) the intermediary did not do any of the\nfollowing—\n(i) initiate the steps required to publish the\nmatter;\n(ii) select any of the recipients of the\nmatter;\n(iii) encourage the poster of the matter to\npublish the matter;\n(iv) edit the content of the matter, whether\nbefore or after it was published;\n(v) promote the matter, whether before or\nafter it was published.\n(2) Subsection (1)(c) does not apply in relation to\naction taken because it is required by or under a\nlaw of an Australian jurisdiction or an order of an\nAustralian court or Australian tribunal.\nExample—\naction taken to comply with a code of conduct or other\ndocument regulating conduct that a digital intermediary\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\n[s 5]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nis required to comply with by a law of an Australian\njurisdiction\n(3) Subsection (1) applies regardless of whether the\ndigital intermediary knew, or ought reasonably to\nhave known, the digital matter was defamatory.\n(4) In this section—\ncaching service means an online service whose\nprincipal function is to provide automatic,\nintermediate and temporary storage of content for\nthe purpose of making the onward electronic\ntransmission of the content more efficient for its\nusers.\nExample of a caching service—\na service for temporarily and automatically storing files\nthat are most frequently downloaded by users of a\nwebsite to speed up the download time for the files\nconduit service means an online service whose\nprincipal function is to enable its users to access\nor use networks or other infrastructure to connect\nto, or send or receive data by means of, the\ninternet.\nExamples of a conduit service—\n• a service provided by an internet service provider\nenabling its users to connect to the internet\n• an internet-based service enabling its users to send\nemails or send text messages to other persons\nstorage service means an online service, other\nthan a caching service, whose principal function\nis to enable its users to store content remotely.\nExample of a storage service—\nan internet-based cloud service enabling its users to\nstore documents, videos or photographs for later\nretrieval\n10D Exemption for search engine providers\n(1) A search engine provider for a search engine is\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\n[s 5]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nnot liable for defamation for—\n(a) the publication of digital matter comprised\nof search results if the provider’s role was\nlimited to providing an automated process\nfor the user of the search engine to generate\nthe results; or\n(b) the publication of digital matter to which the\nsearch results provide a hyperlink if the\nprovider’s role in the publication of the\nmatter is limited to the role mentioned in\nparagraph (a).\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to search\nresults, or to digital matter to which the search\nresults provide hyperlinks, to the extent the results\nare promoted or prioritised by the search engine\nprovider because of a payment or other benefit\ngiven to the provider by or on behalf of a third\nparty.\n(3) Subsection (1) applies regardless of whether the\nsearch engine provider knew, or ought reasonably\nto have known, the digital matter was defamatory.\n(4) In this section—\nsearch engine means a software application or\nsystem designed to enable its users to search for\ncontent on the internet.\nsearch engine provider, for a search engine,\nmeans a person who maintains, or provides users\nwith access to the search functions of, the search\nengine.\nsearch result means a result generated by a search\nengine that is limited to identifying a webpage on\nwhich content is located by reference to 1 or more\nof the following—\n(a) the title of the webpage;\n(b) a hyperlink to the webpage;\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\n[s 5]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(c) an extract from the webpage;\n(d) an image from the webpage.\n10E Early determination of digital intermediary\nexemptions\n(1) The judicial officer in defamation proceedings—\n(a) is to determine whether a defendant has a\ndigital intermediary exemption; and\n(b) is to determine whether a digital\nintermediary exemption is established as\nsoon as practicable before the trial for the\nproceedings commences unless satisfied\nthat there are good reasons to postpone the\ndetermination to a later stage of the\nproceedings; and\n(c) may make any orders the judicial officer\nconsiders appropriate concerning the\ndetermination of the issue, including\ndismissing the proceedings if satisfied the\ndigital intermediary exemption is\nestablished.\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1)—\n(a) the following matters are relevant in\ndeciding whether there are good reasons to\npostpone the determination of whether a\ndigital intermediary exemption is\nestablished to a later stage of the\nproceedings—\n(i) the cost implications for the parties;\n(ii) the resources available to the court at\nthe time;\n(iii) the extent to which technical or\nscientific issues are raised in the\nproceedings;\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 6]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 9\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(iv) the extent to which establishing the\ndigital intermediary exemption is\nlinked to other issues for determination\nduring the trial for the proceedings; and\n(b) the judicial officer may determine a digital\nintermediary exemption is established on\nthe pleadings without the need for further\nevidence if satisfied that the pleaded\nparticulars are sufficient to establish the\nexemption.\n(3) Nothing in this section limits the powers that a\njudicial officer may have apart from this section\nto dismiss defamation proceedings, whether\nbefore or after the trial for the proceedings\ncommences.\n(4) In this section—\ndigital intermediary exemption means an\nexemption from liability for defamation\nmentioned in section 10C or 10D.\n6 Amendment of s 15 (Content of offer to make amends)\n(1) Section 15(1A)(b)—\nomit, insert—\n(b) if the matter is digital matter—an offer to\ntake access prevention steps in relation to\nthe matter; or\n(2) Section 15—\ninsert—\n(1B) If the matter in question is digital matter, an offer\nto take access prevention steps may be made\ninstead of, or in addition to, either or both of the\noffers mentioned in subsection (1)(d) and (e).\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 7]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 10\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n7 Insertion of new s 23A\nAfter section 23—\ninsert—\n23A Orders for preliminary discovery about\nposters of digital matter\n(1) This section applies if the court procedure law for\na court allows a person seeking to bring\ndefamation proceedings for the publication of\ndigital matter to obtain an order for, or in the\nnature of, preliminary discovery for either or both\nof the following purposes—\n(a) to obtain information to assist in identifying\nthe posters of the matter;\n(b) to obtain information to assist in locating\nphysical or digital addresses for the posters\nof the matter to allow concerns notices to be\ngiven to them or defamation proceedings\nagainst them to be commenced.\n(2) Despite anything to the contrary in the court\nprocedure law for a court, the court must take the\nfollowing matters into account before making an\norder mentioned in subsection (1)—\n(a) the objects of this Act;\n(b) privacy, safety or other public interest\nconsiderations that may arise if the order is\nmade.\nExample for paragraph (b)—\nevidence suggesting the poster of digital matter is\nin fear of domestic violence from the person\nseeking an order to obtain the poster’s address\n(3) This section does not limit the matters the court\nmay take into account before making an order\nmentioned in subsection (1).\n(4) In this section—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\n[s 8]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 11\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\ncourt procedure law, for a court, means—\n(a) rules of court for the court; or\n(b) an Act or other legislation that regulates the\npractice or procedure of the court; or\n(c) the general law concerning the inherent or\nimplied jurisdiction or powers of the court.\n8 Amendment of s 27 (Defence of absolute privilege)\n(1) Section 27(2)—\ninsert—\n(ba) the matter is published to a person who, at\nthe time of the publication, is an official of a\npolice force or service of an Australian\njurisdiction and it is published to the official\nwhile the official is acting in an official\ncapacity; or\n(2) Section 27—\ninsert—\n(3) In this section—\nofficial, of a police force or service of an\nAustralian jurisdiction, means—\n(a) an officer, employee or member of staff of\nthe police force or service; or\n(b) another person engaged to act for or on\nbehalf of the police force or service.\n9 Insertion of new s 31A\nAfter section 31—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\nClause 7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\nClause 25\n26\n27\n\n[s 9]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 12\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n31A Defence for publications involving digital\nintermediaries\n(1) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory\ndigital matter if the defendant proves—\n(a) the defendant was a digital intermediary in\nrelation to the publication; and\n(b) the defendant had, at the time of the\npublication, an accessible complaints\nmechanism for the plaintiff to use; and\n(c) if the plaintiff gave the defendant a written\ncomplaint under this section about the\npublication—reasonable access prevention\nsteps, if steps were available, were taken in\nrelation to the publication, whether before\nthe complaint was given or within 7 days\nafter the complaint was given.\nNotes—\n1 The defendant is not required to prove\nparagraph (c) to establish the defence if the\nplaintiff has not given the defendant a written\ncomplaint about the publication under this\nsection. Subsection (3) sets out requirements\nfor giving written complaints.\n2 Subsection (6) defines accessible complaints\nmechanism.\n(2) For subsection (1)(c), reasonable access\nprevention steps were taken in relation to the\npublication of digital matter if—\n(a) for access prevention steps taken by the\ndefendant—the steps taken were reasonable\nfor the defendant to take in the\ncircumstances; or\n(b) for access prevention steps taken by another\nperson—it was reasonable for the defendant\nnot to take steps because of the steps already\ntaken.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0002","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 2","content":"[s 9]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 13\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(3) A written complaint is given under this section\nabout the publication of defamatory digital matter\nif—\n(a) the complaint contained information\nsufficient to enable a reasonable person in\nthe defendant’s circumstances to be made\naware of the following—\n(i) the name of the plaintiff;\n(ii) the matter and where it could be\nlocated;\n(iii) that the plaintiff considered the matter\nto be defamatory; and\n(b) the complaint was given using an accessible\ncomplaints mechanism for the plaintiff to\nuse or given to the defendant in another way\npermitted by section 44.\n(4) A defence under this section is defeated only if the\nplaintiff proves the defendant was actuated by\nmalice in establishing or providing the online\nservice by means of which the digital matter was\npublished.\n(5) A defendant who would otherwise be a digital\nintermediary in relation to the publication of\ndigital matter does not cease to be a digital\nintermediary for this section merely because the\ndefendant took steps to detect or identify, or steps\nto remove, block, disable or otherwise prevent\naccess by persons to, the following—\n(a) defamatory or other unlawful content\npublished, or sought to be published, by a\nperson using the online service provided by\nthe defendant;\n(b) other content published, or sought to be\npublished, by a person using the online\nservice provided by the defendant that was\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n\n[s 10]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 14\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nincompatible with the terms or conditions\nunder which the service was provided.\nNote—\nThis subsection allows a defendant to rely on the\ndefence despite the definition of digital intermediary in\nschedule 5 excluding authors, originators or posters of\ndigital matter if the defendant’s editorial or moderating\nrole over content published using the online service was\nlimited to the steps mentioned in the subsection.\n(6) In this section—\naccessible complaints mechanism, for a plaintiff\nto use, means an easily accessible address,\nlocation or other mechanism available for the\nplaintiff to use to complain to the defendant about\nthe publication of the digital matter concerned.\nExamples of an accessible complaints mechanism\n• an email address or direct messaging address to\nwhich a complaint may be sent\n• a webpage, or a part of a webpage, enabling details\nabout a complaint to be uploaded or inputted\n10 Insertion of new s 39A\nAfter section 39—\ninsert—\n39A Orders against non-party digital\nintermediaries concerning defamatory digital\nmatter\n(1) This section applies in relation to defamation\nproceedings for the publication of digital matter\nif—\n(a) the plaintiff has obtained judgment for\ndefamation against the defendant in the\nproceedings; or\n(b) a court has granted a temporary injunction\nor makes another temporary order\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\n[s 10]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 15\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\npreventing the defendant from continuing to\npublish, or from republishing, the matter\npending the determination of the\nproceedings; or\n(c) a court has granted a final injunction or\nmakes another final order preventing the\ndefendant from continuing to publish, or\nfrom republishing, the matter.\n(2) In defamation proceedings to which this section\napplies, the court may order a digital intermediary\nwho is not a party to the proceedings (a non-party\ndigital intermediary) to take access prevention\nsteps or other steps the court considers necessary\nin the circumstances—\n(a) to prevent or limit the continued publication\nor republication of the matter; or\n(b) to comply with, or otherwise give effect to,\nthe judgment, injunction or other order\nmentioned in subsection (1).\n(3) Without limiting subsection (2), an order under\nthis section may—\n(a) require 1 or more steps to be taken; or\n(b) require a step to be taken in relation to all, or\nonly some, of the users of an online service.\n(4) The court may not make an order under this\nsection against a non-party digital intermediary\nunless the intermediary has been given an\nopportunity to be heard about whether it is\nappropriate for the order to be made.\n(5) Despite subsection (4), the court may make a\ntemporary order without giving the non-party\ndigital intermediary an opportunity to be heard\nabout whether it is appropriate to make the order\nif the court considers it necessary in the\ncircumstances for the order to be made\nexpeditiously pending a subsequent hearing\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n\n[s 11]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 16\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nconcerning whether a further temporary order or a\nfinal order should be made.\n(6) An order may be made under this section even if\nthe non-party digital intermediary is not, or may\nnot be, liable for defamation, including because of\na defence, for the publication of the digital matter\nto which the defamation proceedings relate.\n(7) This section does not limit other powers the court\nmay have apart from this section to grant\ninjunctions or make other orders requiring a\nnon-party digital intermediary to take access\nprevention steps or other steps.\n11 Amendment of s 44 (Giving of notices and other\ndocuments)\n(1) Section 44(1)(a)(iv)—\nomit, insert—\n(iv) by sending it by email, messaging or other\nelectronic communication to an electronic\naddress or location indicated by the person\nfor giving documents to, or serving\ndocuments on, the person; or\n(2) Section 44(1)(b)(iii)—\nomit, insert—\n(iii) by sending it by email, messaging or other\nelectronic communication to an electronic\naddress or location indicated by the body\ncorporate for giving documents to, or\nserving documents on, the body corporate.\nExamples for paragraphs (a)(iv) and (b)(iii)—\n• an email address or direct messaging address set out\non an internet-based social media forum for\ncontacting the administrator of the forum about\ncontent on the forum\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 12]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 17\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n• an email address or direct messaging address\nprovided by the poster of digital matter on an\ninternet-based social media forum for contacting\nthe poster about the content of the matter\n• a form on a website provided by a digital\nintermediary enabling a user to contact the\nintermediary by filling in the form or uploading\ndocuments\n(3) Section 44(2), after ‘be’—\ninsert—\ngiven to or\n12 Insertion of new pt 6 and div 1, hdgs\nAfter section 47—\ninsert—\nPart 6 Transitional provisions\nDivision 1 Transitional provision for\nAct No. 55 of 2005\n13 Amendment of s 49 (Savings, transitional and other\nprovisions for Act No. 55 of 2005)\nSection 49, heading—\nomit, insert—\n49 Causes of action for publication of defamatory\nmatter\n14 Insertion of new pt 6, div 2, hdg\nAfter section 49—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\nClause 18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n\n[s 15]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 18\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nDivision 2 Transitional provision for\nDefamation (Model\nProvisions) and Other\nLegislation Amendment\nAct 2021\n15 Amendment of s 50 (Transitional provision for\nDefamation (Model Provisions) and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2021)\nSection 50, heading—\nomit, insert—\n50 Publication of defamatory matter after\ncommencement\n16 Insertion of new pt 6, div 3\nPart 6, as inserted by this Act—\ninsert—\nDivision 3 Transitional provisions for\nDefamation and Other\nLegislation Amendment\nAct 2025\n51 Definitions for division\nIn this division—\n2025 amendments means amendments made to\nthis Act by the Defamation and Other Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025.\nexisting law, in relation to the 2025 amendments\nabout a subject, means the law that would have\napplied if the amendments had not been enacted.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\nClause 13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n\n[s 16]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 19\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\npost-commencement action, in relation to the\n2025 amendments about a subject, means a cause\nof action for the publication of defamatory matter\naccruing after the commencement of the\namendments.\npre-commencement action, in relation to the\n2025 amendments about a subject, means a cause\nof action for the publication of defamatory matter\naccruing before the commencement of the\namendments.\n52 Digital intermediary amendments\n(1) This section applies to the 2025 amendments\nabout the following (the digital intermediary\namendments)—\n(a) exempting digital intermediaries from\nliability for defamation;\n(b) providing a defence for publications of\ndefamatory digital matter involving digital\nintermediaries.\n(2) Except as provided by subsection (3)(b), the\ndigital intermediary amendments apply to a\npost-commencement action.\n(3) The existing law continues to apply despite the\ndigital intermediary amendments—\n(a) to a pre-commencement action; and\n(b) to a post-commencement action, but only\nif—\n(i) the post-commencement action is 1 of\n2 or more causes of action in\nproceedings commenced by a plaintiff;\nand\n(ii) each cause of action in the proceedings\naccrues because of the publication of\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 16]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 20\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nthe same, or substantially the same,\nmatter on separate occasions, whether\nby the same defendant or another\ndefendant; and\n(iii) 1 or more of the other causes of action\nin the proceedings are\npre-commencement actions; and\n(iv) the post-commencement action\naccrued no later than 1 year after the\ndate on which the earliest\npre-commencement action in the\nproceedings accrued.\n53 Offer amendments\n(1) This section applies to the 2025 amendments\nabout offers to make amends (the offer\namendments).\n(2) The offer amendments apply to offers to make\namends made after the commencement of the\namendments regardless of whether the offers\nrelate to publications occurring before or after the\ncommencement.\n(3) The existing law continues to apply despite the\noffer amendments to offers to make amends made\nbefore the commencement of the amendments.\n54 Preliminary discovery or non-party digital\nintermediary order amendments\n(1) This section applies to the 2025 amendments\nabout courts making the following orders (the\npreliminary discovery or non-party digital\nintermediary order amendments)—\n(a) for, or in the nature of, preliminary\ndiscovery;\n(b) to take steps—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 16]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 21\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(i) to prevent or limit the continued\npublication or republication of\ndefamatory matter; or\n(ii) to comply with, or otherwise give\neffect to, judgments, injunctions or\nother court orders.\n(2) Except as provided by subsection (3)(b), the\npreliminary discovery or non-party digital\nintermediary order amendments apply to the\nmaking of an order after the commencement of\nthe amendments regardless of whether the\nproceedings in which the order is made—\n(a) involve a pre-commencement action or\npost-commencement action; or\n(b) were commenced before or after the\ncommencement of the amendments.\n(3) The existing law continues to apply despite the\npreliminary discovery or non-party digital\nintermediary order amendments—\n(a) to an order made before the commencement\nof the amendments; or\n(b) to the variation or revocation of an order\nmade before the commencement of the\namendments.\n55 Absolute privilege amendments\n(1) This section applies to the 2025 amendments\nabout the defence of absolute privilege in its\napplication to publications to officials of police\nforces or services of Australian jurisdictions (the\nabsolute privilege amendments).\n(2) The absolute privilege amendments apply to a\npost-commencement action.\n(3) The existing law continues to apply despite the\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 17]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 22\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nabsolute privilege amendments to a\npre-commencement action.\n56 Document giving or service amendments\n(1) This section applies to the 2025 amendments\nabout the ways in which notices or other\ndocuments for the purposes of this Act must or\nmay be given to, or served on, individuals or\nbodies corporate (the document giving or service\namendments).\n(2) The document giving or service amendments\napply to the giving or service of notices or other\ndocuments after the commencement of the\namendments regardless of whether the notices or\nother documents relate—\n(a) to pre-commencement actions or\npost-commencement actions; or\n(b) to proceedings commenced before or after\nthe commencement of the amendments.\n(3) The existing law continues to apply despite the\ndocument giving or service amendments to the\ngiving or service of notices or other documents\nbefore the commencement of the amendments.\n17 Amendment of schedule, hdg (Schedule numbers 1–3 not\nused)\nSchedule, heading, ‘3’—\nomit, insert—\n4\n18 Amendment of sch 5 (Dictionary)\nSchedule 5—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\nClause 23\n24\n25\n26\n27\nClause 28\n29\n30\n\n[s 18]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 2 Amendment of Defamation Act 2005\nPage 23\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\naccess prevention step, in relation to the publication of digital\nmatter, means a step—\n(a) to remove the matter; or\n(b) to block, disable or otherwise prevent access, whether\nby some or all persons, to the matter.\ndigital intermediary, in relation to the publication of digital\nmatter, means a person, other than an author, originator or\nposter of the matter, who provides or administers the online\nservice by means of which the matter is published.\nNote—\nThere may be more than 1 digital intermediary in relation to the\npublication of the same digital matter.\ndigital matter means matter published in electronic form by\nmeans of an online service.\nonline service means a service provided to a person, whether\nor not it is requested or it is for a fee or reward, to enable the\nperson to use the internet, including, without limitation, a\nservice enabling a person—\n(a) to access or connect to the internet; or\n(b) to use the internet to do 1 or more of the following—\n(i) send or receive content;\n(ii) store content;\n(iii) index content;\n(iv) search for content;\n(v) share content;\n(vi) interact with other persons.\nExamples of an online service—\n• an internet-based social media platform\n• a forum created or administered by a person using a facility\nprovided by an internet-based social media platform that enables\nusers to share content or interact with other users about a topic\n• a website or other internet-based platform that enables knowledge\nto be shared by or with its users\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n\n[s 19]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Criminal Code\nPage 24\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nposter, in relation to the publication of digital matter, means a\nperson who uses the online service by means of which the\nmatter is published for the purpose of communicating the\nmatter to 1 or more other persons.\nPart 3 Amendment of Criminal Code\n19 Code amended\nThis part amends the Criminal Code.\n20 Amendment of s 365 (Criminal defamation)\n(1) Section 365(1), ‘, without lawful excuse,’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 365—\ninsert—\n(1A) However, the person does not commit an offence\nagainst subsection (1) if the person has a lawful\nexcuse for the publication of the defamatory\nmatter.\n(3) Section 365(2), ‘subsection (3)’—\nomit, insert—\nsubsection (4) or (5)\n(4) Section 365—\ninsert—\n(3A) This subsection applies if, having regard to the\ncircumstances happening before, at the time of\npublication or after the publication—\n(a) the accused person would not be liable for\ndefamation for the publication under a\nrelevant digital intermediary provision if the\nrelevant person brought civil proceedings\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0003","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 3","content":"[s 21]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Criminal Code\nPage 25\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nfor defamation against the accused person;\nor\n(b) the accused person would have a digital\nintermediary defence for the publication if\nthe relevant person brought civil\nproceedings for defamation against the\naccused person.\n(5) Section 365(8)—\ninsert—\ndigital intermediary defence means the defence\nstated in the Defamation Act 2005, section 31A.\nrelevant digital intermediary provision means\nthe Defamation Act 2005, section 10C or 10D.\n(6) Section 365(8), definition relevant defence, paragraph (a)—\nomit, insert—\n(a) a defence available under the Defamation\nAct 2005 other than—\n(i) the statutory defence of failure to\naccept reasonable offer; or\n(ii) the statutory defence of justification; or\n(iii) the digital intermediary defence; or\n(7) Section 365(1A) to (8)—\nrenumber as section 365(2) to (10).\n21 Insertion of new pt 9, ch 113\nPart 9—\ninsert—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n\nPage 26\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n[s 21]\nDefamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025\nPart 3 Amendment of Criminal Code\nChapter 113 Transitional provision\nfor Defamation and\nOther Legislation\nAmendment Act 2025\n768 Proceedings for criminal defamation\n(1) Former section 365 continues to apply to a\nproceeding for an offence in relation to\ndefamatory matter published before the\ncommencement.\n(2) New section 365 applies to a proceeding for an\noffence in relation to defamatory matter published\nafter the commencement.\n(3) Subsection (1) applies despite section 11.\n(4) In this section—\nformer section 365 means section 365 as in force\nimmediately before the commencement.\nnew section 365 means section 365 as in force\nfrom the commencement.\n© State of Queensland 2025\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18","sortOrder":2}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"The Defamation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 received royal assent and will commence seven days after the date of assent, with most changes applying to publications occurring after commencement.","complexity_score":7,"likely_questions":["When does the new law start and does it apply to content posted before that date?","How do I make a complaint to a digital intermediary about defamatory content to trigger the defence?","Can I still sue a search engine for displaying defamatory search results?","What happens if a platform does not have an accessible complaints mechanism?","How do the new criminal defamation provisions interact with the civil defences?","Can a court force a platform to remove content even if the platform is not liable for defamation?"],"complexity_factors":["Multiple new legal concepts defined (digital intermediary, access prevention step, digital matter, poster)","Overlapping regimes for civil and criminal defamation with cross-references between the Defamation Act and the Criminal Code","Complex transitional provisions distinguishing pre-commencement and post-commencement causes of action with exceptions for orders and offers","Early determination procedure requiring courts to assess exemptions before trial, with a list of factors for postponement","Interplay between federal model defamation provisions and new Queensland-specific amendments","Court powers to issue orders against non-parties with potential for temporary ex parte orders"],"plain_english_summary":"The Act narrows defamation liability for digital intermediaries and search engines by creating exemptions for passive caching, conduit or storage services and for automated search results, while adding a new defence where intermediaries run an accessible complaints mechanism and act within seven days. Courts can decide exemptions early, order preliminary discovery to identify posters, and compel non-party intermediaries to take down content. It reduces liability risk for platforms but imposes new complaint-handling duties and gives plaintiffs stronger tools to unmask and remove online defamatory material."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Bill materially expands the scope of the Defamation Act. The original Act addressed who is liable for defamatory publications and available defences in a largely person‑to‑person and publisher‑focused framework. This Bill adds a bespoke regime for digital intermediaries—explicit statutory exemptions (s10C, s10D), a statutory intermediary defence (s31A), court powers to order third‑party intermediaries to remove or block access to content (s39A), and early judicial determination rules (s10E). It also modifies criminal defamation rules to account for the civil intermediary defenses (Criminal Code s365 amendments). Those changes extend the law from regulating publishers and authors to actively regulating platform behaviour, complaint handling, and third‑party enforcement mechanisms, significantly broadening legal and operational obligations for online service providers (see s10C, s10D, s31A, s39A, Criminal Code amendments)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple new substantive provisions inserted into the Defamation Act (10C, 10D, 10E, 23A, 31A, 39A) with interlocking requirements and defences","Cross‑reference between Defamation Act and Criminal Code (Criminal Code s365 refers to Defamation Act s10C, s10D, s31A), increasing cross‑Act complexity","New and consequential amendments to existing sections (s15, s27, s44) and to definitions in Schedule 5","Procedural requirements and timing rules (early judicial determination under s10E; 7‑day window for statutory takedown steps in s31A(1)(c))","Transitional provisions with multiple conditional temporal rules distinguishing pre‑commencement and post‑commencement actions (Division 3, ss51–56), including complex exceptions for proceedings that mix pre‑ and post‑commencement causes of action (s52(3)(b))","Broad, fact‑dependent concepts (\"reasonable access prevention steps\", \"accessible complaints mechanism\", \"online service\") likely to generate litigation over interpretation","Powers allowing injunctions/orders against non‑parties (s39A), including emergency orders without prior hearing (s39A(5)), which introduces procedural discretion and conditionality"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill changes (mechanically)\n\n- Creates a new limited legal regime for online platforms and other \"digital intermediaries\": it adds explicit exemptions and a statutory defence for intermediaries that host, transmit or index online content (new sections 10C, 10D and 31A). (See: s10C, s10D, s31A.)\n\n- Requires courts to decide early in defamation proceedings whether an intermediary exemption or defence applies and allows dismissal where the exemption is established. (See: s10E.)\n\n- Gives courts express power to order third‑party (non‑party) intermediaries to take “access prevention steps” (remove, block or disable access) to enforce judgments or injunctions, and allows temporary emergency orders without prior notice in urgent cases. (See: s39A.)\n\n- Enables applicants in online defamation cases to seek preliminary discovery to identify posters of digital content, but requires courts to consider privacy, safety and public interest before making such orders. (See: s23A.)\n\n- Expands the statutory content of an offer to make amends to include offers to take access prevention steps (e.g. removing content). (See: amended s15.)\n\n- Extends absolute privilege (a complete legal immunity) to publications made to police officials acting in their official capacity. (See: amended s27.)\n\n- Updates the ways legal notices and documents can be given or served to allow electronic delivery (email, direct message, web form, etc.). (See: amended s44.)\n\n- Clarifies definitions relevant to online publication (digital intermediary, digital matter, online service, access prevention step, poster). (See: amended Schedule 5.)\n\n- Amends the Criminal Code to narrow criminal defamation exposure where a person has a lawful excuse or where civil digital‑intermediary protections would apply; and preserves transitional application for older publications. (See: Criminal Code amendments to s365 and new Chapter 113.)\n\n**Who this affects\n\n- Digital intermediaries: ISPs, cloud storage providers, search engines, social media platforms and other services that enable access, storage, transmission or search of online content. They gain exemptions/defences (s10C, s10D, s31A) but also new obligations: provide an \"accessible complaints mechanism\" and, if notified, take \"reasonable\" access prevention steps within 7 days if available (s31A(1)–(3)).\n\n- Plaintiffs (people claiming they have been defamed): gain clearer routes to identify anonymous posters (preliminary discovery, s23A), to seek removal orders against intermediaries (s39A), and to obtain access prevention steps as part of offers to make amends (amended s15).\n\n- Defendants/posters of content: face potential disclosure through preliminary discovery and increased risk of content removal via non‑party intermediary orders (s23A, s39A).\n\n- Courts and legal practitioners: will carry new procedural duties—early rulings on intermediary exemptions (s10E), balancing privacy/safety in disclosure orders (s23A(2)), and handling orders against non‑party intermediaries (s39A).\n\n- Law enforcement/police officials: publications to them in an official capacity are within absolute privilege (amended s27).\n\n**Why it matters (claimed rationale and mechanical effect)\n\n- Claimed purpose: to adapt defamation law to online publication by clarifying when intermediaries are protected and by giving courts tools to remove or block defamatory digital content and identify anonymous posters. The Bill mechanically achieves this by creating exempt categories and procedural routes for takedown and discovery (s10C, s10D, s31A, s23A, s39A).\n\n- Testing the claimed purpose against costs and trade‑offs: the Bill reduces legal risk for intermediaries (lower litigation exposure) but shifts enforcement and compliance costs onto those intermediaries when courts order them to act (s39A). It encourages intermediaries to operate accessible complaint channels and act quickly on notices (s31A(1)(b),(c)), but the core exemptions (s10C, s10D) are broad and do not require knowledge of falsity (s10C(3), s10D(3)), which lowers incentives to proactively moderate content unless required by complaint or law.\n\n**Concrete incentives, burdens and likely behaviour changes\n\n- Platform incentives: build and maintain complaint mechanisms; develop procedures to take \"reasonable access prevention steps\" within a short timeframe (7 days) after receiving a valid written complaint (s31A(1)(b),(c)). Larger platforms will likely absorb these compliance costs more easily than small providers. Search engines are still exposed to orders if they prioritise/promote results for payment (s10D(2)).\n\n- Plaintiff strategy: may rely more on court‑ordered takedowns or discovery to identify anonymous posters (s23A, s39A). Because non‑party intermediary orders may be available even where the intermediary is not liable (s39A(6)), plaintiffs can seek relief directly against platforms to remove content.\n\n- Free speech and access trade‑offs: exemptions for intermediaries can reduce chilling on platforms knowing they are shielded from routine liability; conversely, court powers to force removals and discovery can reduce public availability of content and increase exposure of anonymous speakers (s23A, s39A).\n\n- Competition and market structure: the compliance and legal response burden (complaint handling, takedown workflows, designing accessible mechanisms) impose fixed costs that favour incumbents. Small or specialised intermediaries may face proportionally higher burdens.\n\n**Practical implementation and legal risks\n\n- Court workload and timing: the requirement for courts to decide intermediary exemptions early (\"as soon as practicable\"; s10E) creates more pre‑trial litigation and may increase interlocutory hearings, with cost and resource implications (s10E(1)–(2)).\n\n- Enforcement risk for intermediaries: courts can order action against intermediaries even if those intermediaries would have a civil defence or exemption (s39A(6)). Temporary emergency orders are possible without prior hearing (s39A(5)), raising the risk of urgent operational burdens.\n\n- Ambiguities and litigation points: terms such as \"reasonable access prevention steps\" and the scope of an \"accessible complaints mechanism\" are fact‑sensitive and likely to generate disputes about adequacy (s31A(2), (6) examples). The definition of \"online service\" is broad and may capture many business models (Schedule 5).\n\n**Who pays, who decides, and what changes in behaviour?\n\n- Who pays: platforms and intermediaries bear compliance and technical costs; courts bear increased interlocutory work; plaintiffs incur litigation costs but gain new enforcement routes; defendants/posters face discovery risks and content removal.\n\n- Who decides: courts make early determinations on exemptions and can order non‑party intermediaries to act; intermediaries (platform operators) decide complaint handling processes and whether to take access prevention steps within the statutory timeframes.\n\n- Behaviour changes: platforms will put in place complaint channels and takedown procedures; plaintiffs will use discovery and non‑party orders more; anonymous posters may face higher exposure to identification through court orders (s23A). \n\n**Key sections to read for details**: s10C (caching/conduit/storage exemptions), s10D (search engine exemption), s31A (digital intermediary defence), s10E (early determination), s39A (orders against non‑party intermediaries), s23A (preliminary discovery), amended s15 (offers to make amends), amended s44 (electronic service), Schedule 5 (definitions), Criminal Code amendments to s365 (interaction with digital intermediary protection)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/defamation-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/defamation-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/defamation-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/defamation-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/defamation-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/defamation-and-other-legislation-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}