ACTIn ForceAct
Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002
124AConcerns notices
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 124A
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002.
124A Concerns notices
(1) For this division, a notice is a concerns notice if—
(a) the notice—
(i) is in writing; and
(ii) states the location where the matter in question can be
accessed; and
Example—location
a webpage address
(iii) informs the publisher of the defamatory imputations that
the aggrieved person considers are or may be carried about
the aggrieved person by the matter in question
(the imputations of concern); and
(iv) informs the publisher of the harm that the person considers
to be serious harm to the person’s reputation caused, or
likely to be caused, by the publication of the matter in
question; and
(v) for an aggrieved person that is an excluded corporation—
also informs the publisher of the financial loss that the
corporation considers to be serious financial loss caused,
or likely to be caused, by the publication of the matter in
question; and
(b) a copy of the matter in question is, if practicable, provided to the
publisher together with the notice.
Note Section 124B requires a concerns notice to be given before
proceedings for defamation can be commenced.
(2) To remove any doubt, a document that is required to be filed or lodged
to commence defamation proceedings cannot be used as a concerns
notice.
(3) If a concerns notice fails to particularise adequately any of the
information required by subsection (1) (a) (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v), the
publisher may give the aggrieved person a written notice (a further
particulars notice) requesting that the aggrieved person provide
reasonable further particulars as stated in the further particulars notice
about the information concerned.
(4) An aggrieved person to whom a further particulars notice is given
must provide the reasonable further particulars stated in the notice
within 14 days (or any further period agreed by the publisher and
aggrieved person) after being given the notice.
(5) An aggrieved person who fails to provide the reasonable further
particulars stated in a further particulars notice within the applicable
period is taken not to have given the publisher a concerns notice for
this section.