Australia has become well known as the defamation capital of the world, with many high profile figures regularly, and successfully, suing media outlets.

But recently there’s been a new trend: politicians using defamation law against ordinary people.

It’s become so common that one senior government minister is even suggesting creating a new fund to bankroll the lawsuits, all paid for by the taxpayer.

Today, legal academic and contributor for The Saturday Paper Bri Lee on how the current wave of defamation threats is impacting the ability of regular people to criticise their elected officials, and what that might mean for our democracy. 

Guest: Legal academic and contributor for The Saturday Paper, Bri Lee.

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