Australian defamation law never needed Morrison’s ‘anti-trolling’ legislation

Recent rulings in defamation actions involving Google and Twitter show existing law is already achieving the aims of the former Morrison government’s proposed ‘anti-trolling’ legislation, experts say. Photograph: Filip Singer/EPA

Two rulings in separate defamation cases – one involving John Barilaro, and the other targeting a pro-Labor Twitter account – show how Australia’s current laws already allow victims of online abuse to take their fight to court and win.

Google last week was ordered to pay Barilaro, the former New South Wales deputy premier, more than $700,000 over a series of “racist” and “abusive” videos published on YouTube channel Friendlyjordies.