Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Public Records Act 1973 - SECT 20A

Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence

20A. Protection against actions for defamation or breach of confidence



(1) If access has been given to a public record and the access was permitted
by this Act to be given, no action for defamation or breach of confidence lies
against the Crown, a Minister, the Keeper of Public Records or a person
employed in the Public Record Office by reason of the giving of the access,
and no action for defamation or breach of confidence in respect of any
publication involved in, or resulting from, the giving of the access lies
against the author of the document or any other person by reason of that
author or other person having supplied the public record to the Public Record
Office.

(2) The giving of access to a public document shall not be taken for the
purpose of the law relating to defamation or breach of confidence to
constitute an authorisation or approval of the publication of the public
document or its contents by the person to whom access is given.