WHAT DO "ORDINARY" AUSTRALIANS THINK IS DEFAMATORY?

Is defamation law out of touch with present-day social values in Australia? Is it still damaging to someone's reputation to say they are homosexual, or sexually active before marriage, or that they have smoked marijuana?

The Communications Law Centre (CLC) at the University of New South Wales has launched an unprecedented project to ask Australians what they consider to be defamatory, how they interpret defamatory material and what they think defamation law should do.

The National Defamation Research Project is headed by Michael Chesterman, Emeritus Professor from UNSW's Faculty of Law and UNSW Professor Philip Bell, Head of the School of Media and Communications. It is funded by the Australian Research Council in partnership with John Fairfax Holdings, the Seven Network, the Australian Publishers Association, and law firm Cornwall Stodart.

Professor Chesterman said: "The defamation laws talk about 'ordinary reasonable people', but who are they and what do they think? How successful are judges in keeping in touch with contemporary values? This defamation project is the first of its kind to put these questions to the public."

Professor Bell explained: "The project will also focus on how the media deals with defamation law. Their practices and concerns about the application of libel laws will be examined in the context of new and emerging communications technologies."

The CLC is an independent, non-profit, public interest organisation specialising in media and communications law and policy.

CONTACT DETAILS: Professor Chesterman, tel. 9360 4962 or 9385 2254 and Professor Bell, tel. 9385 6810. For further information contact Roy Baker at the CLC on 9385 7379 or Public Affairs & Development on 9385 3644.