Catchwords
Defamation – Defence of qualified privilege - Where occasion of qualified privilege existed to communicate existence of rumour - Where defendant published rumour as "common knowledge" - Whether matter published on occasion attracting defence of qualified privilege - Whether distinction between publication of rumour and publication of fact of rumour.
Defamation – Defence of qualified privilege - Rebuttal by express malice - Where defendant did not believe truth of publication - Whether lack of belief in truth of publication sufficient to establish malice.
Words and phrases – "express malice", "qualified privilege".
Defamation Act 1974 (NSW) – s 7A.