Defamation backdown a victory for Tasmanians

Greens Leader Christine Milne is congratulating Tasmanians who railed against the Liberals' sneaky attempt to change the state defamation laws to silence their critics.

"The Hodgman government has embarrassed itself, and Tasmania, by replicating Tony Abbott's protection of big business at the expense of the community," said Senator Milne.

"Governments should act in the interests of voters, but what we're seeing at the state and federal level is Liberal governments pushing to see how much they can get away with on behalf of their big business donors, and only backing down when the electorate revolts.

"This is a big blow to crony capitalism in Tasmania. People are sick of Tasmania's Liberal and Labor parties being the spruikers for logging and mining companies, against the interests of the community," said Senator Milne.

"How undemocratic is it that the Liberals were prepared to prop up the native forest logging industry by silencing the community? It's another demonstration of how unviable and unsustainable the industry is, and how sycophantic the Liberals are.

"Existing defamation laws will now remain in line with others around Australia, thanks to all those who took the time to tell the Liberals that freedom of speech matters."