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Australian philosopher, literary critic, legal scholar, and professional writer. Based in Newcastle, NSW. My latest books are THE TYRANNY OF OPINION: CONFORMITY AND THE FUTURE OF LIBERALISM (2019) and AT THE DAWN OF A GREAT TRANSITION: THE QUESTION OF RADICAL ENHANCEMENT (2021).

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

The point of the #MTRsues controversy

The point, expressed succinctly, is that defamation law should not be used to chill debate about the public images and motivations of political activists and other such public figures. If current defamation law in Australia allows that to happen, it needs to be amended, especially to provide people such as bloggers - who don't have the resources of media corporations - with sufficient protections. If Melinda Tankard Reist successfully sues Jennifer Wilson, none of us should feel safe.

This is worth a vigorous public campaign, and every blogger should be involved.

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