139Defences of fair report of proceedings of public concern

139 Defences of fair report of proceedings of public concern proves that the matter was, or was contained in, a fair report of any proceedings of public concern. (2) It is a defence to the publication of defamatory matter if the defendant (a) the matter was, or was contained in, an earlier published report of proceedings of public concern; and (b) the matter was, or was contained in, a fair copy of, a fair summary of, or a fair extract from, the earlier published report; and (c) the defendant had no knowledge that would reasonably make the defendant aware that the earlier published report was not fair. (3) A defence established under subsection (1) or (2) is defeated if, and only if, the plaintiff proves that the defamatory matter was not published honestly for the information of the public or the advancement of education. proceedings of public concern means— (a) any proceedings in public of a parliamentary body; or

(b) any proceedings in public of an international organisation of any countries or of the governments of any countries; or (c) any proceedings in public of an international conference at which the governments of any countries are represented; or (d) any proceedings in public of— (i) the International Court of Justice, or any other judicial or arbitral tribunal, for the decision of any matter in dispute between nations; or (ii) any other international judicial or arbitral tribunal; or (e) any proceedings in public of a court or arbitral tribunal of any country; or (f) any proceedings in public of an inquiry held under the law of any country or under the authority of the government of any country; or (g) any proceedings in public of a local government body of any Australian jurisdiction; or (h) proceedings of a learned society, or of a committee or governing body of the society, under its relevant objects, but only to the extent that the proceedings relate to a decision or adjudication made in Australia about— (i) a member or members of the society; or by the society; or (i) proceedings of a sport or recreation association, or of a committee or governing body of the association, under its relevant objects, but only to the extent that the proceedings relate to a decision or adjudication made in Australia about— (i) a member or members of the association; or

by the association; or (j) proceedings of a trade association, or of a committee or governing body of the association, under its relevant objects, but only to the extent that the proceedings relate to a decision or adjudication made in Australia about— (i) a member or members of the association; or by the association; or (k) any proceedings of a public meeting (with or without restriction on the people attending) of shareholders of a public company under the Corporations Act held anywhere in Australia; or Note Corporations Act is defined in the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1. (l) any proceedings of a public meeting (with or without restriction on the people attending) held anywhere in Australia if the proceedings relate to a matter of public interest, including the advocacy or candidature of a person for public office; or (m) any proceedings of an ombudsman of any country if the proceedings relate to a report of the ombudsman; or (n) any proceedings in public of a law reform body of any country; or (o) any other proceedings conducted by, or proceedings of, a person, body or organisation of another Australian jurisdiction that are treated in that jurisdiction as proceedings of public concern under a provision of a law of the jurisdiction corresponding to this section.